A gem of the Charleston community, The Green Heart Project is an organization that was founded with an open-mind and the intention of providing students of Mitchell Elementary, adjacent to my home and in a classified food desert, with fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables that they otherwise lacked access to. From that seed grew an experiential Farm to School learning program empowering kids with hands-on nutritional, agricultural, and environmental education. Green Heart operates an urban farm and 10+ school gardens throughout Charleston that serve as outdoor learning laboratories tied to STEAM curricula where students participate in the growing, harvesting, and cooking processes.

The same vegetables that students and volunteers grow and harvest together, end up in their cafeterias! (or purchased by me at the Enston Home farm stand).

School-based farms and gardens provide a learning experience that has a positive impact on educational achievement, cognitive skills, social and emotional development, and stewardship of our natural resources. Seeing the next generation grow up healthier, happier and appreciative of our environment fires me up, especially when I see the kids every day. You making a gift to support that will be the best birthday gift I could ask for.

The organization has the goal to raise $15,000 this Giving Tuesday, and I think we can help raise one third of that. Your gift will support Green Heart's garden-based learning experiences in 2023 including:

• 500+ Farm to School lessons

• 100+ volunteer work days

• 45 “pay what you can” produce markets at our Urban Farm's Farm Stand

• 8 educator & volunteer trainings

Donated funds will help cover the cost of:

• educational materials

• food supplies

• garden equipment & tools

• volunteer coordination

• planning & implementation of garden-based learning experiences

For more information, check out their website! Green Heart Project