Parent Night Open Houses in the Garden

“I’m Growing Food at Home!”We were thrilled to hear that families from Parkview, Oriole Park, and Gladiola Elementary have been embracing gardening at home! During the recent Parent Open House events at all three schools, excitement filled the air as students proudly guided their parents through the gardens they helped cultivate. These vibrant gardens, full […]
H.O.P.E. Gardens: Cultivating Creativity and Curiosity in Summer School Gardens

As the summer sun shines brightly over Wyoming, MI, H.O.P.E. Gardens is abuzz with excitement and activity. Our 13 school gardens are thriving, providing a vibrant backdrop for our summer programming. This year, we’ve crafted a series of engaging lessons that not only entertain but also educate our young gardeners. From painting pavers to repurposing […]
JW Marriott Supports Garden Education

H.O.P.E. Gardens is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with JW Marriott, which has purchased 300 of our organically-grown plants to create a stunning plant wall at their hotel. This collaboration beautifies the hotel and significantly supports our mission of providing garden education to schools in Wyoming, MI. H.O.P.E. Gardens is dedicated to fostering […]
Community Connections through Gardening: A Heartwarming Collaboration

The students of TEAM 21 from Godfrey Lee Middle School, Godwin Heights Middle School, and North Godwin Elementary have recently engaged in a heartwarming project that bridges generations and fosters community spirit. The young gardeners prepared herb planters with kind notes for senior citizens at the Wyoming Senior Center, Wyoming SKLD Nursing Home, and UCOM […]
Growing Future Gardeners!

At H.O.P.E. Gardens, one of our most important missions is to teach children how to grow their own food. A cornerstone of this educational endeavor is our commitment to heirloom plants. By focusing on these traditional varieties, we not only preserve biodiversity but also offer a tangible link to the past, showing students the value […]
Beans: The Unsung Heroes in our Nature-Based School Gardens

Beans are more than just a nutritious addition to our diet; they are a powerhouse in nature-based school gardens. Their benefits extend beyond the kitchen table, influencing soil health, plant diversity, and educational opportunities. Here’s why incorporating beans into our school gardens can make a significant difference. 1. Soil Enrichment and Nitrogen Fixation Beans are […]
WZZM-13 On Your Side visits H.O.P.E. Gardens at Oriole Park Elementary

Our Programming…“helps them to see, now I can be a food grower,” H.O.P.E Gardens Lead Teacher Holly Smith stated during an interview with the WZZM 13 On Your Side television crew last week. “I can have a garden, I can encourage my family to have a garden. We can all grow food. Everybody can.” Echoing […]
Team 21 is Garden Planning!

At West Godwin, our team facilitated an engaging garden planning session for first and second-graders. Using creative materials like refried beans for soil, carrot sticks for fences, corn and black beans for seeds, shredded cheese for compost, and broccoli for plants, the students had a blast refining their planning skills while crafting miniature “gardens” that […]
Gimme Some Space!

This month, our students in Wyoming Public STEAM classes are receiving a lesson called ‘Gimme Some Space’During our lesson, students realized that, like themselves, plants have different likenesses and differences that a gardener needs to be aware of. They were able to recall from previous lessons that plants need sun, soil, water, and air but […]
Bountiful Harvest at Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center’s School Garden

At the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, green thumbs were out in force as students teamed up with H.O.P.E. Gardens for a rewarding harvest. Pumpkins, seeds, carrots, tomatillos, basil, tomatoes, radishes, cucamelons, sunflowers, marigolds, and zinnias were among the treasures plucked from the thriving school garden. The excitement was palpable as bags were filled to the […]