Head Start and gardening go hand in hand in Ypsilanti. In the summer of 2002, Perry Learning Garden interns worked with Head Start staff to develop the “Growing in the Garden Curriculum” and teachers received a half-day training around the curriculum before school began in the fall.

In 2004, a new site for the Ypsilanti Head Start was constructed. Because of the teacher’s commitment to garden based education for their 200+ low-income preschoolers, a garden became an integral part of their new site plan. Growing Hope partnered with the architects to develop the Seeds of Learning Garden at the new site. Growing Hope and Head Start have partnered to host a series of Home-Grown Health classes for the families at the Ypsilanti site.

In the spring of 2005, Growing Hope and Head Start built a school greenhouse on site at the Seeds of Learning Garden, to extend garden opportunities year round. Three years later the Seeds of Learning Garden is still going strong. Head Start’s chef is committed to using fresh, healthy food in school meals and over the years the garden has shifted focus to reflect this. We are now growing a garden of herbs and veggies to be ready for harvest in the fall!