Boardman Glenwood H.O.P.E. Club receives Miracle-Gro grant

Boardman Glenwood Middle School’s H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Planet Earth) Club recently received a grant from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company to help continue the development of their courtyard garden project. The $1,500 grant was part of the company’s GRO1000 initiative, which is designed to create 1,000 gardens and pollinator habitats throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe by 2018, to coincide with the Company’s 150th Anniversary. Glenwood was the only Ohio School to receive the grant.

The H.O.P.E. Club received the GRO1000 Grassroots Grant and plans to use the money to further expand their existing wildflower garden as well as develop space for growing edible gardens. Ideally, Glenwood plans to divide their courtyard into four sections, two for pollinator habitats and two for food. The club would like to see the food produced go towards supplementing school lunches, supplying area restaurants and local food banks.

Students who are members of the H.O.P.E. Club will primarily maintain the gardens, but all students will have access.

“We were thrilled to receive the grant support for the continued development of our butterfly and school gardens,” said Laura Kibby, one of H.O.P.E.’s advisors, “It is our hope that through the development of this habitat, we can bring attention to the importance of our local ecosystem and agriculture while educating our students and community about the benefits of pollinators and local food sources.”