Space to Grow: Hope House Garden Yields More than Vegetables

Wendy Tatum Food and Built Environment Associate Granville County, wearing hat, shows students a blueberry bush that has begun fruiting at the Hope House Community Garden in Oxford, NC. The students regularly visit to do work in the garden.

OXFORD, N.C. – On a modest plot of land in Granville County, North Carolina, a group of schoolchildren huddle around garden beds, tugging spinach leaves from damp soil and chatting about worms. It’s not a scene from a farm field trip – it’s an ordinary afternoon at God’s Garden at Hope House, a community garden that’s doing extraordinary things.

It’s messy, imperfect, and totally theirs. And that’s the beauty of it.

Located across the street from a transitional living facility called Hope House, this once-forgotten patch of land owned by Greater Joy Baptist Church in Oxford first became a garden thanks to a local Eagle Scout, who took it on as a project. It fell into disarray after he left for college, but in the past year, it has bloomed into a hub for learning, healing, and community engagement, thanks in large part to the tireless work of Wendy Tatum, Cooperative Extension’s food and built environment associate in Granville County.

“When I came on board last year, I was just asking around about community gardens,” said Tatum. “Someone pointed me to this spot. It had been started by an Eagle Scout but was abandoned—no water source, no door on the fence, just left for the animals.”

Rather than letting the dream wilt, Tatum rallied the community. First, she talked to Pastor Ronnie D. Morton, the pastor at Greater Joy and founder of Hope House, to understand his vision for the garden. She found support from OxCAN (Oxford Community Action Network), a local nonprofit that swooped in with 25 volunteers to clear debris, plant trees, build picnic tables, and prep the site – all in a matter of hours.

“It was insane,” Tatum recalled, “like a helicopter drop of help.”

But it wasn’t until she connected with a former student, Elisia’ Parker – now the founder of Naturally Nourished Tutoring Service and Private School – that the garden found its heartbeat. Parker’s students now manage the garden, learning everything from soil health to the water cycle, and even incorporating mindfulness and meditation into their visits.

Wendy Tatum, Extension’s food and built environment associate in Granville County, explains how to pick lettuce leaves to students Jordan, left, and Gunner at the Hope House community garden.

“The kids always talk about how when they go to the garden, they feel better,” Tatum shared. “It’s more than just planting seeds; it’s about giving them space to breathe, to disconnect from screens, and reconnect with the earth.”

Naturally Nourished students tend to the raised beds, grow onions and greens, and sometimes even get to taste the fruits of their labor. Parker recalled the excitement when spinach planted in the fall unexpectedly sprouted in the spring. “We brought it back to school, made spinach dip, and ate it on the porch with pita chips,” she said. “They went through the entire cycle, seed to table.”

The garden has also become a place of transformation for the surrounding community. Once known for crime and drug activity, the neighborhood now sees children playing outside and neighbors stopping by to harvest produce. “We don’t care if people pick from the garden,” said Tatum. “If someone needs food, it’s there.”

Water – once the biggest hurdle – has been handled with a little ingenuity and a lot of heart. A local donor provided a water tank, and the volunteer fire department fills it regularly. The students even decorated their own watering jugs, turning each visit into a ritual where they learn responsibility and take pride in their work.

Beyond veggies, the garden cultivates connection. Extension specialists visit to teach about stormwater management and nutrition. Tatum leads lessons using Extension’s “MyPlate” curriculum tailored to different ages. Science lessons include getting your hands dirty. Nature becomes the classroom.

Student Jordan holds an earthworm as Zaiah, right, and Brynlee (also in center photo) watch while visiting the Hope House community garden in Oxford, N.C. The students regularly visit to work in the garden.

And the kids? They’re all in.

“I like to plant and pick weeds and see the worms,” said Harlym, 8, with pride. “It makes me feel like I could do anything.”

Five-year-old Mason said the best part is eating what they grow. “I wish we had big worms – like this big,” he added, stretching his arms wide.

It’s not a master gardener’s garden, Parker said with a laugh.

“It’s messy, imperfect, and totally theirs. And that’s the beauty of it.”

As for what’s next, both Parker and Tatum are eager to expand. With plans to sell produce at the farmers market and deepen the garden’s role in local education, God’s Garden is growing deep roots in Oxford.

“We say it all the time,” Tatum said. “Small steps. That’s how change happens.”