Programs

  • Urban Youth Gardening Initiative

    PAIRED VOLUNTEERS WITH URBAN YOUTH IN AN EFFORT TO TEACH THE KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WHILE INSTALLING THE VIRTUE OF HARD WORK AND SUCCESS THROUGH BUILDING AN URBAN GARDEN TOGETHER.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Aug 1, 2021 – Jul 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $771.9K

  • Program 1 [2025]

    The Green Heart Projects Farm to School programs utilize school gardens & urban farms as vehicles for teaching connecting students to food, health, culture & the environment. The garden serves as an outdoor learning laboratory, perfect for reiterating classroom curricula with a focus on STEAM standards through applied learning experiences. Additionally, students are connected with fresh, locally-grown fruits & vegetables as they participate in the growing, harvesting, and cooking processes. Through these hands-on, outdoor learning experiences students learn our core value of respect, and practice essential social-emotional learning (SEL) skills while working alongside volunteers, their Green Heart Buddies in both the garden & kitchen classroom. (Continued on Schedule O).Continued From Part II, Line 4a Programs Classic Program At most of our partner schools, we deliver a Classic program, which guides a group of students over the period of a school semester through the process of planting, cultivating, harvesting, and cooking food from the garden. Lessons include: -Respect in the garden -Soil health -Companion planting -Seed saving -Culinary (kale pesto; sauteed collards; strawberry smoothies) -Honey and bees -Planting for future generations STEAM Program At Mitchell Elementary School and Sullivans Island Elementary School, we deliver a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) program in alignment with the science curriculum. The program reaches every student at every grade level of the school (pre-K through 5th grade), 4 times per year. The lessons reinforce science concepts at every grade level. Lessons include: -Soil testing -Mapping the garden -Basic plant needs -Plant life cycles -Insect adaptations -Pickling solutions Key Program Outcomes: Educational Achievement and Cognitive Development School-based farms and gardens provide an opportunity for students to engage in experiential, inquiry-based learning right outside their school's front door. Experiential and inquiry-based learning has positive effects on educational achievement, cognitive development, social and emotional development and community engagement. The Green Heart Project curriculum is directly tied to South Carolina state Standards of Learning. Students have the opportunity to take concepts and theories they are learning in the classroom and experience them in real- life application through work in the garden. Studies have shown that inquiry-based and experiential learning in school gardens have had positive impacts on: -Student enthusiasm for learning -Science understanding and skills -Standardized test scores -GPAs -Higher-order thinking skills -Confidence in ability Social and Emotional Development School gardens offer the opportunity for students to develop social and emotional skills through interactions with peers as well as adult and college volunteers who serve as mentors and role models. In several studies, students engaged in garden-based learning demonstrated development in the following areas: -Motivation and enthusiasm -Sense of self and identity -Self-esteem & teamwork -Better school attendance -Fewer disciplinary problems -Parental involvement -Utilize and promotePBIS expectations Becoming Active Citizens in the Community Students who participate in The Green Heart Project also learn the importance of sustainability as it applies to our local food systems, and why it is important for us as citizens to care for our environment. As students participating in service-learning activities, numerous studies have demonstrated significantly increased connection to local community; civic behaviors related to environmental responsibility; skills, values, and other behaviors related to active citizenship; deepened connection to cultural heritage; and a sense of ethics. Farm to School Program Results: During the 2024-2025 school year, we delivered 234 garden and culinary lessons to 1,272 students at our partner schools. Lessons are focused on nutrition education, character development, environmental literacy, support for academic learning, and gardening and cooking skills. All Green Heart lessons are centered on hands-on learning and they always include a garden-fresh taste test!- We surveyed three student groups before and after their participation in Green Heart's Farm to School program. - Students in all three groups: - Showed improvement in their attitudes towards eating vegetables- Student attitudes increased from 69% positive to 89% positive- Said if they grow fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to eat them- Student preference increased from 74% likely to 88% likely- Became more comfortable working in the garden- Student comfort increased from 81% comfortable to 98% comfortableSt. Andrews School 2025 spotlightSt. Andrews School for Math and Science: a "Green Heart Transplant School"Two teachers were part of The Green Heart Project at Mitchell Elementary School since our founding in 2009, before moving to St. Andrews School for Math and Science (SASMS) in 2020, and partnering with Green Heart to bring a garden to the school. The two teachers currently lead a student Garden Club at SASMS and coordinate classroom involvement in the school garden that bridges hands-on, garden-based learning with academic concepts."We have been able to facilitate student exploration of authentic math and science concepts in our school garden thanks to Green Heart. To be clear, building the boxes is not something we would have done at our school without Green Heart's help. Green Heart's contribution to student engagement, learning and well-being continues to have a large impact. Beyond the learning which takes place, we see kids try nutritious foods they've grown. On top of hands-on standards focused learning, these experiences cultivate a valuable life skill (growing your own food) and provide exposure to eating healthy foods." - Teachers at St. Andrews School for Math and ScienceOur Garden Locations Mitchell Elementary School Sanders Clyde Creative Arts School Sullivans Island Elementary School Meeting Street Academy Singleton Park Garden Meeting Street Elementary at Brentwood Memminger Elementary School Meeting Street Elementary at BurnsJames Simons School Charleston Catholic School Charleston Charter School for Math & Science Compass Collegiate Academy Daniel Island School Affiliate St. Andrews School for Math & Science Affiliate Ashley River Creative Arts Affiliate Carolina Youth Development Center Affiliate Burke High School Affiliate Pepperhill Elementary SchoolAffiliate Mount Pleasant Academy Affiliate's care for their own gardens supported by The Green Heart Project, while School Partners have gardens that are maintained by The Green Heart Project. Urban Farm at Enston Home Located at the intersection of King Street and Huger Street in the Upper Peninsula of Downtown Charleston, the Urban Farm at Enston Home is a partnership between The Green Heart Project and the Charleston Housing Authority. It fulfills the spirit of William Enstons will by building a garden for its residents, while serving as an educational asset for surrounding schools. Urban FarmGreen Heart grew over 4,000 pounds of fresh produce during 2024-2025 year at the Urban Farm at Enston Home. Most of the produce was sold at our weekly, on site, "pay what you can" Farm Stand, serving low to moderate income households. Combined with produce donations from Limehouse Produce, GrowFood Carolina, and Lowcountry Street Grocery, we distributed a total of 11,078 pounds of affordable, fresh produce to the community during the 2024-2025 year.As harvests peaked in late fall and late spring, we also generated $10,130 in produce sales to Charleston restaurants, including FIG, The Ordinary, and Lowland Tavern. Farm Field TripsThe Urban Farm at Enston Home is a growing field trip destination for students of all ages, from places near and far. During 2024-2025, we hosted 9 field trips to the Urban Farm at Enston Home, reaching a total of 243 students. All field trips consist of a farm tour, a hands-on garden activity, and a farm-fresh taste test. Thanks to the following groups for joining us to learn about growing food and cultivating community through urban farming.- Adventist Christian Academy (Charleston, SC)- Charleston Charter School for Math and Science (Charleston, SC)- College of Charleston (Charleston, SC)- Howard University (Washington, DC)- Mitchell Elementary (Charleston, SC)- Richmond University SEEDS Project (Richmond, VA)- Sullivan's Island Elementary (Sullivan's Island, SC)- Trident Technical College (Charleston, SC)Youth Development Programs Youth InternshipsThis Summer, we employed 6 high school students in the Youth Internship Program. Over the cours
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Aug 1, 2024 – Jul 31, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $701.1K