“Sprouts” is Hacienda’s community of volunteer parents and grandparents who connect students to the natural world through gardening. Gardening provides a hands-on approach to science. By working with the soil and the plants, students experience and connect with the cycles of nature. Harvesting and eating the fruits of the garden allows students to experience the joy of growing their own food and tasting fresh produce. Through gardening, students learn about ecology, botany, horticulture, nutrition, earth science and more.

At Hacienda, Sprouts volunteers work with students and teachers in the class garden and with garden-related projects. Sprouts works to support and assist the garden parent with gardening education, curriculum, and activities. Sprouts works to obtain seeds, compost, pots, potting soil, garden gloves and more through donations, grants, and fundraisers, such as plant sales.