Reflecting on YouthGROW Summer 2018

This was a big summer season for YouthGROW. We employed 38 youth, the highest to date, and put them to work for six weeks at our Main South and Grant Square urban farm sites.

We kicked off the summer with an overnight orientation at AMC’s Nobleview Cottage and enjoyed a good balance of job-readiness training and outdoor fun. This team bonding set the stage for the season, allowing for a hardworking and harmonious summer.

YouthGROWers received opportunities to learn about and support the REC's farmers markets, mobile market, community gardens and school gardens. They acquired knowledge in the importance of soil conservation and local food systems, and developed culinary skills by cooking food for our weekly field trips.

We visited other farms in the region to complete work projects and learn more about their growing practices and gain insight on how to run our own farms. Towards the end of the season, we hosted two successful community block parties and celebrated growing over 2,000 pounds of produce.

It was bittersweet saying our goodbyes on the last day, but as always, there is still a lot to be done on the farm. Without the help of nearly 40 youth, farm tasks become more time consuming in the fall. If you're interested in volunteering, we’d love to see you and your friends at our open farm volunteer hours 2:00-5:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays at our Main South Farm, 63 Oread Street.

Thank you, YouthGROWers for an educational, successful and exciting summer!