Bringing H.O.P.E. to west Michigan Schools
We provide garden education programs for students in grades K-12.
Program Overview
Our collaborative, hands-on, experiential approach reinforces concepts and teaches students practical life skills.
H.O.P.E. Gardens provides garden education during school and as part of after-school and summer programs.
- Planting, tending, and harvesting a garden on school grounds
- Experiential lessons that integrate with science curricula
- A seed-saving and seed-sharing program where students give seeds to surrounding schools and the community
- Custom options (like a sensory or butterfly garden, permaculture design)
- Monthly lessons based on grade level that cover topics ranging from seed starting and tree planting to vermiculture, beekeeping, and nutrition.
Our Impact
“Our school garden has changed many students. I have seen students ask to go to the garden when frustrated or upset. There, they almost immediately relax and can more easily reflect and problem-solve. Students have learned that the garden is somewhere they can go to feel safe, have fun, and watch their hard work pay off.”
Darla England, Principal
"H.O.P.E. Gardens provided engaging lessons for my 4th grade students last year. My students always looked forward to the staff from H.O.P.E. Gardens coming to our classrooms. They loved the staff and the personalized attention that students received from each and every one of them. They also loved the lessons and especially, the taste testing! Best of all, at the review at the end of the year, my students remembered a lot of what they learned! If your students would love to learn about plants, the health benefits of eating plants, play learning games, and get their hands in some dirt, I would highly recommend participating in the lessons with H.O.P.E. Gardens!"
Ginger Elsenheimer, 4th Grade Teacher
“For 4 years, H.O.P.E. has worked with a group of at-risk students in our after-school program. Many kids ask when H.O.P.E. is coming next because they are excited to learn more!”
Miranda Lane, TEAM 21 Site Coordinator
Benefits for Students and Teachers
Experiential Learning
Interactive, progressive and systematic education + hands-on experience = student empowerment
Tangible Rewards
Students are empowered by actually seeing, touching, and tasting the “fruits of their labor”
Mood Enhancing
Soil microbes have proven antidepressant qualities; gardening helps with emotional regulation
Integrated Curriculum
Our curriculum is tied to grade level using core content education standards
Turn-Key Lessons
Our instructors come to your school to teach monthly lessons -- no extra effort required from your teachers
Practical Application
Our program teaches students valuable and practical life skills, which also supports Michigan’s Education Goal #1,
Imitating Nature with Regenerative Gardening
We teach regenerative gardening, which recreates the conditions in which plants naturally thrive. It’s inexpensive and easy to start because it doesn’t rely on chemicals, tilling, or any special equipment.
Unlike a traditional garden, a regenerative garden is covered with mulch, which retains water and nutrients for the plants, minimizes weeds, and enriches the soil for future planting.