Who We Are

The Green Heart Project builds garden-based experiential learning projects and school garden programs to educate students connect people and cultivate community through growing, eating, and celebrating food.

The Green Heart Project was founded in 2009 as a small school garden at Mitchell Elementary School in downtown Charleston with the intention of reconnecting their students with fresh, locally-grown produce. As a Title-1 public school in a labeled food desert, the majority of Mitchell Elementary students come from low-income households that lack access to the whole, fresh fruits and vegetables that we all need to lead a healthy lifestyle. With this knowledge, local neighborhood residents Karalee Nielsen and Chauncey Jordan founded the Project with the hopes of changing those facts. Together with a group of friends, and an open-minded principal looking for alternative ways to teach and inspire, they devised a plan to build an urban garden with a group of 3rd grade students, utilizing the experience as a service-learning project to teach students the value of growing your own food.

In the first year, the Project quickly became more than an experiment in urban gardening. With students and volunteers working in the garden together, a mentorship was fostered. It was soon realized that the students were growing personally and socially, just as the vegetables were growing big in the garden. The urban farm became an organic example of an important life lesson -- through hard work, teamwork and respect for the process, you can literally bear the fruits of your labor. The volunteers became “Green Heart Buddies” – mentors students could count on and learn with as they worked together in the garden. And it is from this model in volunteer-assisted service-learning that the Green Heart Project's mission and educational program was founded.

Through a partnership with SeamonWhiteside, the Green Heart Project designed and built Sullivan’s Island Elementary 5 raised ‘wicking’ beds in the summer of 2015.  It now serves the students of Sullivan’s Island Elementary with room to grow! Currently, there is a Green Heart program everyday of the week at SIES. We serve every grade through in-school programming, in addition to one after-school program and one “special interest unit” for 4th and 5th graders.

In August of 2015, the Green Heart Project adopted GrowFood Carolina’s demonstration garden to facilitate a farm-to-school program for the students of neighboring, Meeting Street Academy.  It consists of 5 irrigated raised beds, herb garden, composting station some fruit trees a muscadine vine. Currently, MSA has a Green Heart after-school program every day of the week, serving Kindergarten, 1st Grade and one group of 2nd-5th Graders.

Through a partnership with SeamonWhiteside, the Green Heart Project designed and built Meeting Street Elementary’s 5 raised wicking beds in the summer of 2015.  It now serves the students of Meeting Street Elementary with room to grow! Currently, MSE-B has two Green Heart after-school programs serving both lower elementary and upper elementary students.

Memminger School of Global Studies is our newest program site! As an International Baccalaureate school, the Green Heart Project programming was a perfect fit. Launched in Fall 2017 with the help of the Charitable Society of Charleston and the SC Ports Authority, we were able to complete a summer garden re-build. Currently we provide two after-school programs for upper elementary and lower elementary students, three in-school programs for the 1st graders at Memminger.

Amy has been teaching for over 20 years, working with elementary, middle, and high school students. Although she majored in art in college, her passion for education led her to pursue her Masters in Elementary Education with a double concentration in science and reading. She has also earned National Board Certification and has been involved in STEAM curriculum development for schools in NJ. Throughout her career, Amy has focused on providing her students with fun, hands-on experiences to help them think critically and express their creativity. She and her students have teamed up with local environmental groups, not only because she values community connection and environmental awareness, but also for the unique learning experiences for her students. As a passionate gardener, she’s excited to keep learning and growing food with the Green Heart community. amy@greenheartsc.org

Xavier has been working with Green Heart since 2021, when he first joined our summer Youth Internship Program. Throughout his time with Green Heart, Xavier has held various positions, developed a strong foundation in farming and has connected with the communities around him. Most recently, he served as a Crew Leader for the Summer 2024 Youth Internship Program. Xavier graduated from Charleston Charter School for Math and Science in 2022 and was also part of the first graduating class at Meeting Street Academy Charleston, one of Green Heart’s parter school. He has a passion for farming and gardening that stemmed from his love for flowers and has led him into photography, which he’s excited to continue to pursue while working in this role!  xavier@greenheartsc.org

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