SIMBA/SIMSA Youth Urban Farming

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: crop improvement and selection
• Education and Training: demonstration, display, mentoring, networking, youth education
• Farm Business Management: labor/employment
• Soil Management: composting
• Sustainable Communities: community services, employment opportunities, food hubs, urban agriculture

J. Jireh Development Corp. (JJDC) is the founder of the Kimball Farms Urban Farming Program. JJDC is a local grower to a juicing company called & Juice Company. JJDC is going to teach disadvantaged youth how to establish their own  business within their community. JJDC has an inner-city youth program called SIMBA/SIMSA Circle. The SIMBA/SIMSA Circle youth will be taught how to grow and sell their produce to a business(s). This experience will be used for academic learning for the youth. Also, the youth will apply the Seven Principles of Nguzo Saba for the empowerment of their Africentric community.

1. Increase sustainable farming skills to disadvantaged youth through hands-on work sessions with farmers
reinforced by urban farming within their own neighborhood.
2. Introduce disadvantaged youth to sustainable agriculture career opportunities through meetings with farmers,
grocers, agricultural firms, chefs, and universities.
3. Provide disadvantaged youth with background on sustainable agriculture practices though use of the Green to
Grow Program curriculum offered by Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Share project results
through a conference presentation held by FPC and Botanical Gardens.
4. Give disadvantaged youth hands-on direct marketing experience by starting and participating in their own
urban farming business.