The Green Heart Project

The Green Heart Project (GHP) is a 501©3 non-profit organization that builds school garden programs in the Charleston area. With a high value placed on health, education, and building community, GHP pairs local volunteer mentors and students to grow school gardens through in-school and after-school programs, primarily in schools serving low-income populations. In doing so, it connects students to local food systems, while reinforcing academic standards, building interpersonal skills and cultivating community. Founded in 2009 as a small school garden program at Mitchell Elementary School, a Title I school which serves a low-income and majority African-American student population, GHP has grown to serve over 1,200 students across six Charleston elementary schools, with lessons focusing on the intersection of food, culture, health and the environment, while integrating STEM classroom standards through hands-on learning.