The Hope Garden Program

Santa's Camp and Wonderland is continuing its Hope Garden Camp Program this year and we would like to give you the chance to help continue and expand the Program. Santa’s Camp and Wonderland has been helping children who are medically fragile or in distressed situations for over 25 years. In the last few years, adults with intellectual disabilities have also been helping plant and tend the two-acre garden and help harvest produce to be taken back to their homes.

The Hope Garden Program was started fourteen years ago and now is a two-acre garden where all the produce is given to food pantries, nursing homes, men’s, and women’s shelter organizations and those in need. In the last few years, over 30,000 pounds have been donated. Volunteers, many with disadvantages help plant, weed, and harvest in the garden are also given produce as available. In June 2022, a 30’ x 72’ Hoop house was donated to Santa’s Camp and Wonderland to be used in the garden program. It will be constructed and converted into a greenhouse by adding heating, ventilation, electricity, and water to start operations in 2024. The greenhouse will be used to start and grow plants to be used in the Hope Garden Program with excess plants being donated to individuals or organizations growing produce etc. to be given to help those in need. Freewill donations will also be accepted to help offset the operating costs of the garden program.

A hydroponic growing system by Freight Farm has been investigated to add to the garden program. They are very reputable and offer full training and resources for their system. Several webinars have been attended, including Auburn University and a group in Austin, Texas that works with individuals that have intellectual disabilities. This system will add the ability to train individuals about hydroponic growing and add to the overall revenue sources for Santa’s Camp and Wonderland. Your help is needed to help build the greenhouse and provide funding for the overall operations of the Hope Garden Program.

A fundraising goal of $25,000.00 to construct the greenhouse and start operations has been established. A $2,000.00 grant from Farm Credit Services of America, a $700.00 grant from the Men’s Garden Club of Omaha and a $3,000.00 grant from Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation have been received to start the building of the greenhouse. For each $500.00 or more received, permanent recognition will be on display in the greenhouse and in publications of Santa’s Camp and Wonderland. A small area will be planted with radishes, onions, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, and other small produce. The larger portion of the garden will be devoted to potatoes, sweet corn, popcorn, sweet potatoes, melons, pumpkins, and other crops that will require more space. Volunteers will be sought from church, school, community, and service organizations to plant, tend, and harvest produce.

We are kindly requesting you to become a sponsor of the Hope Garden Program by providing seed, cultivation equipment, watering equipment and expertise and information on planting, cultivating, and harvesting garden produce. We welcome you to visit Santa’s Camp and Wonderland in Oakland, IA to see our facilities, visit the garden site, and get a first-hand view of our mission.