Education at Grimal Grove brings sustainability to life.
Through Growing Hope, our flourishing Butterfly Garden, the Trees That Feed Foundation, and our free “BlackGold” compost program made from community food scraps, we offer immersive experiences that demonstrate the power of food‑producing landscapes, ecological stewardship, and community resilience.
Scroll this page to read more about all of our programs and the foundations we support.
Growing Hope Foundation
Helping students experience a living fruit grove through hands-on learning, nature, and discovery.
Grimal Grove’s Growing Hope Foundation is a 501c3 dedicated to supporting educational programming at historic Grimal Grove in Big Pine Key, transforming a one-of-a-kind tropical fruit grove into an outdoor classroom for regional students. Through guided field trips, hands-on activities, and teacher partnerships, students experience agriculture, ecology, sustainability, and local history in an immersive Florida Keys setting.
From tropical fruit tastings and nursery work to pollinator gardens, butterfly habitat, and beekeeping demonstrations, each visit is designed to help students learn by doing while building a deeper connection to the natural world.
A Curated Educational Experience
Many students have never experienced where food comes from or explored a working grove ecosystem. Growing Hope bridges that gap by creating memorable, place-based educational opportunities that connect classroom learning to real life.
Educational Experiences Include
- Tropical fruit grove tours
- Fresh fruit tastings
- Hands-on nursery and planting activities
- Pollinator and butterfly education
- Beekeeping demonstrations
- Lessons in sustainability and ecology
- Florida Keys agriculture and cultural history
Grimal Grove Field Trip Reservations
Make your field trip reservation to explore Grimal Grove’s hands‑on, outdoor learning adventures.
Teacher Partnerships
Grimal Grove works closely with educators to help create field trip experiences that align with classroom goals, student learning levels, and curriculum needs. Programs can be tailored to be age-appropriate and relevant across a variety of subjects, including science, sustainability, ecology, agriculture, and local history. Our goal is to provide meaningful hands-on experiences that complement classroom learning and continue the educational impact long after the visit.
Our goal is to provide meaningful hands-on experiences that complement classroom learning and continue the educational impact long after the visit.
On a recent field trip, a 5th Grade teacher at Stanley Switlick said “this is the most unique and educational field trip we’ve ever taken our students on.”
Support Growing Hope's Mission
With generous support from community partners, sponsorships are helping make student field trips more accessible across Monroe County and beyond. Donations help provide: transportation for school visits, sponsored classroom field trips, educational materials and supplies, expanded student access, and continued program development.
Help bring more students to the Grove. Every donation helps provide unforgettable hands-on learning experiences for local children.
TREES THAT FEED
FOUNDATION
Their mission to PLANT FRUIT TREES TO FEED PEOPLE, CREATE JOBS, EDUCATE, AND BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT.
Trees that Feed was founded by Mary and Mike McClaughin in 2008. They support Patrick and the Grimal Grove with breadfruit plants and consultation about developing a breadfruit grove.
THE BUTTERLFY
GARDEN PROJECT
In the tradition of Mr. Grimal, who once had a beautiful butterfly garden, Grimal Grove in 2019 began a butterfly garden and incubation site led by neighbor Lisa Kost. Her effort was to bring back the native Zebra Long wing butterflies back after the population was decimated from Hurricane Irma. Currently about 2000 Zebra longwing butterflies and about 200 Atalas have been released.
For more information contact Lisa, lkzlwp@aol.com
Free "BlackGold" Compost
Feed Worms, Not Landfills.
Turn waste into nutrient-rich soil! Free compost is available to help your gardens, fruit trees, and native plants thrive.
Option 1: Compost at Home
Create your own “BlackGold” using fruit & vegetable scraps, coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, eggshells, and yard trimmings.
Option 2: Participate at the Grimal Grove Food Waste Drop-Off Site
Visit Makesoil.org, search for the Grimal Grove Food Waste Drop-Off Site, read the accepted materials guidelines, register for access code and start diverting food waste from landfills.
Help reduce methane emissions, support healthy soil, and protect the Florida Keys environment.
Contact Melody Tuschel: 305-509-0325 or email for more information.
