All new community garden sprouts up in East Stuart
STUART—On the chilly afternoon of Nov. 27, House of Hope and the City of Stuart proudly invited the community and several local notables to celebrate the official opening of the all-new East Stuart Community Garden located at 520 SE Florida Street in Stuart.
The newly cleared and fenced area features a series of raised garden beds and trellises which will function as part of House of Hope’s Gardening to Grow Healthy Children and Families program focusing on increasing awareness of the health benefits of good nutrition and the basics of gardening. The program strives to change unhealthy eating habits and encourage a more active lifestyle through healthy cooking classes, demonstrations and gardening activities.
Through hands-on instruction, members of the community will participate in the planning, planting, maintenance and harvesting of the garden. While learning gardening basics, participants will also be educated about the health benefits of consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables, choosing healthy snacks, and the benefits of an active lifestyle. House of Hope currently operates the same model in both the Banner Lake and Golden Gate communities.
City of Stuart commissioner, Eula Clark, addressed the gathering, “this garden will be a reflection of the vibrancy of the East Stuart Community in how it will grow and glow.”
The East Stuart Community Garden has been made possible through a collaborative effort between House of Hope, the City of Stuart, Children’s Services Council and several private donors.
For more information about House of Hope’s nutrition gardens, visit hohmartin.org/nutrition-gardens or contact the agricultural coordinator, Laura Lyman at (772) 286-4673 x 1018.
ABOUT HOUSE OF HOPE
Founded in 1984, House of Hope touches the lives of over 5,500 people per month with services that include basic needs — food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance — and long-term case management which helps people build life skills for a more self-sufficient future. The agency has service centers and thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen Beach. Several nutrition gardens and the newly constructed Agricultural and Vocational Production Farm provide a sustainable source of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. House of Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment in Stuart offers free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health and overall well-being.
