Project HOPE is a youth- and science-based program to teach middle school students STEM (through gardening. Students also develop communication skills by providing their harvest to community senior citizens. In addition, the project includes a financial literacy component to teach students money management skills. The project is a joint venture with Alcoa Middle School and supported by individuals and organizations such as First Tennessee Bank, City of Alcoa, Asbury Place Garden Club, as well as Blount County Master Gardeners. The MLK Center has established a raised bed garden as a result of this project. As numbers of students participating increases this year, there is a need for more BCMG volunteers.  Learn more about this great program on their website: projecthopealcoa.org

Project Hope's 2020 Project Report is HERE.

For additional information, please contact Logan Hill via email at:  info@blountcountytnmastergardeners.org

Project HOPE was featured in an article in The Daily Times on January 28, 2019.  Click HERE to view the article.

July 2021 Pizza Party

A wonderful Saturday morning working with the students at Project Hope. They started by learning the different diseases found in tomatoes, and the nutritional components.  Next we compared natural verses processed ingredients used in products and the importance of reading labels.  They followed by a taste tasting of 2 sauces Ragu and Don Pepino. Logan Hill had a chart for the students to write down their comparisons. We made individual Pizzas using the 2 sauces and voted for the best. I would say Don Pepino won this year.   

We also made a smoothie using garden watermelon, strawberries and 1 orange. It was a hit. 

The class ended with everyone trying their luck at tossing the pizza dough. 

Leaning made fun