Staff Spotlight: Meet Arthur Gardine!
This year, we transitioned from having students helping in the gardens to working with only staff and a few volunteers, and found we needed extra help. In June, we hired our first youth employee, Arthur Gardine. Arthur first learned of H.O.P.E. Gardens when he was a 6th grade student at South Elementary. He helped install […]
H.O.P.E. Gardens Receives Farm-to-School Grant
In August, H.O.P.E. Gardens and the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids were awarded a USDA Farm-to-School grant. This competitive award is granted on an annual basis to organizations that support planning, developing, and implementing farm-to-school programs. H.O.P.E. Gardens will use part of this grant to install a new fence for Wyoming Regional Center, a program […]
“Whose Garden Is It?” Kids: “It’s Our Garden!”
“Whose garden is it?” Kids: “Our Garden!” This is near and dear to my heart! It has been such a privilege to spend time with kids and youth in gardens as we learn together how to grow food and try new things. This year we had some water challenges which gave youth the opportunity to […]
The Seed of Love and the Thorn of Prejudice
The seed of love and the thorn of prejudice. This week we were saving sunflower seeds. We grow a variety at the schools that produce brown, tan, white, black and grey seeds. While picking out seeds a young girl shared with me that some people are prejudice toward her but she isn’t going to let […]