Powering Community Gardens Across the US

“I’m happy today because of garden group.”
“This garden calms me down way more than school.”
“Can I take this Lamb’s Ear back with me? I want to use it like a fidget?”
“This is so cute. I didn’t know how much I loved gardening.”
“I was mad earlier, but this helped.”

These are just a few of the reflections shared by youth participating in the Fostering Hope gardening program. Fostering Hope is a nonprofit initiative that brings creative, trauma-informed programming to young people in residential treatment facilities and the foster care system. Seed Programs International was happy to partner with them this year to donate seeds and support to their gardening program.

This year, the weekly garden program supported 74 youth, ages 8 to 17, living at a 24-hour residential facility in Ohio.

The program focused on sensory exploration, therapeutic connection with nature, and creative, hands-on learning. Instructors emphasized that there is no single “right way” to garden, encouraging youth to experiment, explore, and discover personal meaning in the process. Sessions also incorporated themes of community, interconnectedness, and shared ownership.

Throughout the summer, participants planted, tended, and harvested their garden spaces—strengthening social-emotional skills, developing confidence, and building a genuine sense of belonging along the way. The youth also prepared for a youth-let Farmers Market Event, developing skills in leadership, marketing, selling produce, and earning funds to support a nonprofit of their choice.

This partnership continues to demonstrate how gardening can provide stability, joy, and healing for youth navigating challenging circumstances. Through consistent weekly sessions, the garden becomes a predictable, calming space where young people can step away from stress, express themselves freely, and experience the pride of nurturing something from seed to harvest. For many participants, these moments of connection—with nature, with peers, and with caring adults—serve as powerful building blocks for resilience and emotional well-being.

Giving Tuesday is December 2 and GlobalGiving is giving $500 million to boost donations to nonprofits worldwide.This is a great opportunity to make your donations go further to support programs like this. Thank you so much for your support!