My son works on a farm as part of a learning employment program for youth. The program is amazing, and teaches them the total farm-to-table food system. A bunch of interconnected organizations work together to create this youth job. They have several large community gardens around our city, and one bigger farm depicted below. Right now they are doing a lot of work to prepare the garden beds, and get the farm ready for the season. In the summer, they harvest the food, and they sell it out of a truck at a senior citizens home at a great discount . This creates a beautiful connection between youth and seniors, and it teaches the kids how to run a business.
The farm stand
The teens plant, grow, tend to, and harvest the food, inventory it, set it up, sell it, and track what they sold. My son did this last year so this year they are talking about making him essentially a peer supervisor with more responsibilities. I am a proud mom! Another thing the kids do is collect produce from a bunch of local farmers and they go package it up for distribution at the Food Bank. So the kids go to the food bank to work, once per week in the summer. AND THATS NOT ALL! Last year the program began including the local community bike shop. The kids go there , too, and last year they built bikes and carts to use on the farm!!!! My son's bike broke this year so now he is actually riding one of these bikes to school and work!
When he was little, I worked on that farm too!
Talk about a full circle, totally connected program! This farm also lets University students get college credit for working on the farm. I went to college when he was little, so I used to bring him with me sometimes. My friend would give him rides on the tractor. I did it for two semesters because I loved it soooooo much. I never would have imagined that he would one day work there too as a part of his education. And he is getting paid! I think he loves farming more than I did. He never misses a day. In fact he injured his arms in a bike accident this week, and he didnt want to stop working, so he has been pushing wheelbarros and shoveling dirt though the pain. I brought him to the Dr this morning to make sure this was okay to do, and she told him to stop working till Monday to prevent further injury. So now he will take some days off. That's dedication!
Mama pride
I am so proud of my son! I am also proud of these organizations for working together to make it happen. Not only do the kids learn skills that will help them their whole lives, but they give back to their community while they are doing it. Last year the seniors used to bake my son bread, and he would take it home, along with leftover fresh produce, and we had such lovely meals all summer long. I cant rave enough about this program. Here are some pictures below! Enjoy!
One of the garden farm sites
The truck they sell produce from
The farm, and you can see a root cellar there in the left of the photo
This farm has a lot going on. There are three greenhouses, an apple orchard, bee hives, pigs, chickens... and a nearby swimming hole, even! :) People from all over town buy CSAs from them, and they also sell their goods at the farmers market on weekends (my son doesn't do that part)
The farm has changed a lot over the years!
Now there is a basketball hoop over there, and a couple of little outbuildings. Back when I was a farmer there, I helped rip down a huge fence that used to be there. It was a lot of work, taking it all down and getting the posts out of the ground! I do admit I am proud to have been one of the many people who have helped this farm slowly develop and change over time :)
Thanks for reading! :)