October 26 - A “Fan Favorite” Trip for Project Hope
Project Hope visited the Corn Maze today. A favorite with all the students and requested every year. A beautiful day to wonder through the maze.
October 19 - Indoor fun for Project Hope
The Project Hope Alcoa Students did an indoor activity today. Caroline, Ella, Laura and Roe helped the students make individual thank you note’s for our up coming appreciation night for all our sponsor’s who help make Project Hope a reality. Ella after everyone was finished did a craft with pinecones showing the students how to make spiders. They were then treated to an apple pizza. A fun morning with a lot of activity
October 12 - Knoxville Farmers Market
The farm produce was exceptional one new produce the students learned about was dinosaur kale, carnival squash and one booth stood out to me was the different varieties of mushrooms both regular and those used medicinally , one variety being Lions Mane. The bee booth with the different varieties of honey for example summer and fall honey. The students were able to taste and experience the different flavors of honey. Login Hill treated each student to a treat of their choice
Once we were back in Maryville the students were given a snack of Avocado Chocolate Chip cookies to taste.
October 5 - Pancake Breakfast and more……
Project Hope today started at a pancake breakfast, and then delivered vegetables to the MLK Church . Upon returning to the gardens started to prepare for our final celebration to our sponsors in November.
September 28 - Elvie’s Garden
Today Project Hope visited Elvie’s Garden. Elvie is from the Philippines and started her garden as there were not any vegetables from her country here. If they were at the market stores they were expensive. The students as well as the adults learned a lot. Here’s some of the vegetables Elvie planted: miracle tree, fruit leaves tree branch equivalent of kale, mornings tree, sweet potato, kalabasa squash, tapioca, okra, wing beans, chiodigourd, bottle gourd, luffa gourd & yard long gourd. We ended the day with the students tasting a stuffed banana pepper with sausage herbs and cheese from the garden.
August 24 - Garden work & a Taco Bowl Treat
Project Hope student’s and volunteers worked hard in the garden. We welcomed our new volunteer Dierdre. The team had a lot of work to do weeding, identifying weeds, flowers , plants and new bugs . They weighed the produce at the end , that is given to the community. The garden is a continuous learning experience. It was led today by Logan, Nancy, Sissy, Laura and Roe. After we went inside for a homemade taco bowl treat made with Garden vegetables and herbs. It was another fun but hard working day.
August 17 - A Beautiful Day for Lessons in the Garden
We had another beautiful day to work in the gardens at Project Hope The morning started with a lesson by Ella asking kids what they did in the gardens. The lesson was followed by what to plant for the fall.
Everyone then went outside under the guidance of Logan, Nancy, Laura and Roe to trim herbs, pick tomatoes and peppers to be given to the community. They weighed the produce which was 40 pounds today that was being given out.
The lesson finished with a testing of two smoothies using some herbs and produce from the garden. They had a tasting of a zucchini banana chip bread. There was nothing left so we can say it was a great day at ProjectHope.
August 3 - Working in the Garden
Today was a working day in the gardens at ProjectHope Alcoa . We were led by Logan Hill and both the volunteers and students worked hard weeding, picking vegetable’s and peaches off the tree and watering the gardens. They were able to taste a zucca zucchini and cheese bread from the garden and a smoothie made from watermelon and cucumbers all from the garden. We then delivered produce and herbs at the end of the day. A fun and great day to be outside working for the good of the community with a dedicated crew.
July 27 - The Dennis Freeman Community Garden & Scavenger Hunt
Today, students were divided into two groups for a scavenger hunt. Each group had to complete a scavenger exercise. They had to identify plants in various beds, had to write down what bugs they saw and they had to name the bug. Students were encouraged to take a sample of the produce if it looked good to eat and to state if it was bitter or sweet. They also had to name the plants that were currently blooming and decided what to plant in any open space. Students also had to decide if the new plants would be succession planting or companion planting.
The students also stopped by the Dennis Freeman Community Garden to help maintain fruit and vegetables along with help weed the area. They saw a Watermelon in a trellis, cantaloupe and cucumbers being grown in the garden and flowerbeds being used for pollination. Other items being grown in the Freeman Garden are eggplant, banana peppers and green peppers.
July 20 - Surprise Mr. Hill
Today at Project Hope we honored Logan Hill, not only for his big birthday coming up but for all the hard work and dedication he has given to the program and community.
The Alcoa students all talked about the one thing they have learned from Logan as well as the volunteers. Returning students Morgan and Will came to see Logan and talked about their experience. Logan spoke to everyone their on his vision. . We opened gifts and ended with a birthday treat of cup cakes and ice cream. We all thank you Logan for your dedication and hard work.
June 29 - The Greenhouse receives a cover and more
The beginning of today's class was spent organizing what needed to be done in the garden. We placed a shade cloth on top of the greenhouse to make shade for the vegetables and herbs. Within the greenhouse you will find organic herbs, garlic, sweet baby watermelon, eggplant, squash and much all planted by the students. Students also weeded some and Mr. Hill placed cardboard down to smother weeds around the garden. We also enjoyed learned from Mr. John who shared information about the compost. He said the dirt was as rich as it can get for a garden. Compost is a nutrient to the soul. A Eye Click Beetle was discovered hanging around the garden as well.
June 15 - Succession Planting, Pineapple Sage Tea and more
Students enjoyed a class at the gardens of Project Hope. It was on “succession planting” taught by Ella. The students then went out side to weed. It was a hot day but we all survived and ended with a Taco dip using garden corn and fresh cilantro from the herb garden. The drink for todays’class was a pineapple sage ice tea made from the herb garden at project hope and sweetened with home grown stevia.
June 9 - Maryville Farmers Market
Project Hope students and volunteers visited the Maryville Farmers Market. They were able to talk to the venders, compare prices, ask them questions on their gardening and homemade produce. They ended with a lesson in Stevia which is grown in their green house and taste some home made cookies and brownies made with homemade Stevia . Fun and educational day.
Community Clean-up Day!
June 3rd Project Hope participated in the Saturday Joint Hall Community Cleanup Day. They ended at the community garden that project hope mainten to keep the garden plentiful.
May 18 Watermelon Radish & more.
Project Hope we started with a lesson on planting taught by Ella, the students then tasted a turkey vegetable meatball all from the garden.Broccoli, kale, carrots and 3 herbs from new herb garden.
They went outside under the guidance of Logan, Nancy, Ella and Sissy to plant and weed. Logan Hill explained what activities they will be doing for the day. Mr. Hill dug holes for the students to plant more vegetables. Students also learned about Watermelon Radish.
May 11 - Planting New Vegetables and more.
Today the students under the direction of Nancy Neilsen, Laura and John worked hard planting new vegetables and weeding in the Project Hope Gardens. They ended the morning with a taste of chocolate chip cookies made using homemade stevia.
May 5 - Soil Lesson, Testing goodies & Planting
Project Hope students started with a lesson by Ella on soil. Followed by a test testing of kale chips, Herb rosemary cookies, rosemary herb taken from the new indoor herb garden, smoothies with fresh fruit and kale . The students then went outside to work in the new high tower green house and planted tomatoes and flowers.
April 20 - Plants & soil, Bank Accounts, and Donors
The students started today with a class taught by Ella on Soil and Plants. Some of the students went to the bank to open accounts. The memorial for my dear friend Cookie Zappa was finished today. Thank you to all who helped and donated, Bill Cochran, Zappa family, Co-op of Maryville and Eli a student with project hope and Nancy Nelson and myself finished it today. We planted over 15 herbs today in the Project Hope garden.
2024 Project Hope Begins
April 6, 2024 represents the first meeting for the Project Hope students and volunteers. At this meeting, we got a chance to learn about each other as the project volunteers talked about their work and volunteer experiences and why they are participating in the program. The students introduced themselves and their grade level at Alcoa Middle. This the bonding time for establishing an in-the-garden relationship as we plant, weed and grow a variety of vegetables this season. We have five (5) new students joining the returning 5 students. This will be a good mix of experience and learning students and will allow for our experienced students to provide leadership and assistance of our new students.
We talked about the overall program that will consist of gardening and learning about financial literacy (savings and stocks).
After a delicious waffle breakfast made with zucchini and/or apple by Chef Rosemarie, we talked about the ingredients and how we should be willing to taste (try) different foods because we are "scientists"!
We are off and running...looking forward to growing a lot of produce for our senior citizens!
We also did a review of the gardens and greenhouse. Talked about weeds and they seem really excited to the upcoming garden season adventures!
Above: Picture 1: John DiDeigo volunteer from Tremont is educationing the students about compost and the nourishment of the compost for the soil for planting your harvest.
Picture 2 & 3: Tungsten and twin brother Tokgnar joins Project Hope. They enjoyed the activities today.