The first seed planted
The Hope Garden was established by The Big Garden before 2019, with the goal of making fresh, healthy produce and gardening education more accessible to the community. In 2019, a volunteer stepped in to help care for the garden, and in 2020, the Extension Office Master Gardener program began providing ongoing volunteer support.
Today, a dedicated team of Master Gardeners oversees the garden throughout the growing season. Planning begins in January and February, with planting starting in April. From there, volunteers tend the garden, harvest its produce, and prepare lessons for the children who join them each week.
The garden features 13 raised beds, an expanding pollinator bed, several apple and pear trees, and a flower bed. Seeds, seedlings, and transplants are also donated by community organizations, local businesses, volunteers, and other nonprofit partners.
It’s a true community effort, with many helping hands contributing to something that continues to grow year after year.
GROWING TOGETHER
The Hope Garden is more than a place to grow fresh produce. It’s a place where children learn new skills, discover new foods, connect with nature, and see firsthand what it takes to grow something from the ground up.
Located at The Hope Center for Kids in North Omaha, the garden supports Hope’s mission of faithfully inspiring hope in youth and families. Through a partnership with Extension Office Master Gardener volunteers, the garden provides hands-on learning opportunities for our youngest members while helping bring fresh produce to the children and families we serve.
learning beyond the garden
From April through October, Master Gardener volunteers lead weekly gardening lessons for Hope’s kindergarten through third-grade classes. Each session combines a lesson with a related activity or craft before the children head into the garden to put what they’ve learned into practice.
Together, they plant seeds, water and weed garden beds, care for growing plants, and harvest the results of their hard work. Along the way, children are introduced to new foods and flavors, nutrition, and the natural world around them.
Classes typically include 10 to 33 children, supported by Master Gardener volunteers, Hope teachers, and high school interns. These experiences help children build practical skills, explore new interests, and develop an appreciation for the food they eat.
Though our garden primarily provides lessons to our little ones, we have many students that continue asking about coming back to the garden! We love to see how much enjoyment the garden brings our students and our gardeners enjoy engaging with students who take such an active interest in gardening.
Harvesting an Impact
The garden’s harvest makes a difference beyond the garden beds. Depending on the needs of The Hope Center, fresh produce is shared with the kitchen for meals, sent home with children who helped grow it, and shared with the senior group that meets at Hope.
With an average recorded harvest of approximately 500 pounds of produce each year, the garden helps connect children and families with fresh food while giving young people a meaningful role in growing it themselves.
None of this would be possible without the dedicated volunteers and community partners who contribute their time, knowledge, supplies, and resources. Together, they’re helping the Hope Garden grow into something that nourishes both the community and the next generation.
