Nourishing Haywood County through:
Inaugural Planting: May 2026
Shared purpose
Meaningful connection
Donation of Harvest to ease local food insecurity
Shared learning
Physical exercise
Experiencing the restorative power of nature
Hope Grows Community Garden is a garden for the community, by the community. Everything we hope to cultivate - fresh food, meaningful connection, shared learning, and a place of restoration - depends on the hands and hearts of volunteers who believe in this mission.
Right now, we’re busy building and preparing the garden site, located four minutes east of downtown Waynesville off of Pigeon Road. We’ll be sharing in-progress photos on our social media pages as the garden takes shape.
Soon, we will need volunteers!
Whether you can give several hours a week or occasional help, your presence matters. From building beds to planting, watering, harvesting, and sharing food with neighbors in need - every act of service helps bring this garden to life. We cannot do this alone.
Come plant, grow, and serve alongside us!
If this mission speaks to you, we invite you to join us. Please fill out the form below and follow our social media pages to stay updated on our progress and to receive information on volunteer opportunities.
Together, we can cultivate hope… one seed, one season, one neighbor at a time.
Our Purpose
About us
We’re Ray and Rachel Lopez, and Waynesville has been part of our family story since 2020. What began as holidays and summer stays in the mountains with our three daughters slowly grew into something deeper. In late 2024, after our youngest headed off to college, we decided to make these mountains a more permanent part of our lives.
Community and generosity have always been important to us, and we see so much of that reflected in the people of Western North Carolina. We recognize that life is hard sometimes, and we wanted to be part of bringing something life-giving to our community. Over the past several years, I (Rachel) have sensed the Lord - the source of true Hope - pointing me toward gardening and the healing power of nature as pathways to restoration and renewal. From that, the idea of a community garden began to take root.
When we purchased our property in 2025, it felt like the natural outgrowth of that calling to use the land we’ve been blessed with to create a space where community, purpose, and renewal can grow, and Hope Grows Community Garden was born.
Hope Grows Community Garden grew out of a shared desire to cultivate more than just vegetables: to grow connection, provide nourishment, and to create a welcoming place where neighbors can work together toward a shared goal - all while enjoying the beauty and healing power of nature.
With community support and involvement, we believe this garden can become a place of abundance, shared purpose, and renewal for Haywood County.
Volunteer Needs
We welcome volunteers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to come work and learn alongside us - we believe that everyone has something to contribute!
Volunteering at the garden has many benefits, including:
engaging in meaningful, physically satisfying work that connects you to the land and to nature
gaining knowledge about gardening, how plants grow, and where our food comes from
being part of a team working toward the common goal of helping alleviate food insecurity in our community
Our goal is to provide a safe and fun environment. All volunteers must sign our Release & Waiver of Liability which acknowledges the inherent risks posed by volunteering at a working farm.
Our Partners
We want Hope Grows Community Garden to be a place of generosity, not scarcity. Our commitment is to donate the majority of what we grow to Haywood Christian Ministry - specifically to the Smoky Mountain Harvest Hub - to help address food insecurity across Haywood County. That said, we would also love being able to send our hard working volunteers home with a little taste of the harvest. From each harvest, we will set aside a specific amount to be shared among volunteers.
We welcome support in many forms, including farm & garden equipment, seeds/plant starts, and financial contributions. If you feel led to support our ministry, please contact us at HopeGrowsCommunityGarden@gmail.com.
Hope Grows Community Garden is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.
Join us!
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Together, we can cultivate a place where wellness and community flourish, dedicating our harvest to help ease food insecurity in Haywood County.
~ Founded on Christ’s love ~
~ Open and welcoming to all ~