Flowers for Food and Thought

Project Overview

YENC18-128
Project Type: Youth Educator
Funds awarded in 2018: $2,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2020
Grant Recipient: Allen Neighborhood Center
Region: North Central
State: Michigan
Project Manager:
Joan Nelson
Email
Allen Neighborhood Center

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Crop Production: beekeeping, pollination, pollinator habitat
  • Education and Training: demonstration, mentoring, workshop, youth education
  • Farm Business Management: farmers' markets/farm stands
  • Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, urban agriculture

    Abstract:

    Introducing a hugelkulture bed dedicated to edible flowers will expand the knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices of members of our Youth Service Corps (YSC), a job and life skill training program for urban teens. This new focus will expand the footprint of the YSC Edible Park Project and integrate well with other current YSC projects, including the Fruit Tree Project (a backyard fruit tree census), Bee Wise beekeeping sessions, and Garden-in-a-Box. All YSC projects are crafted with youth and are intended to provide food sources for residents of our low-income, low-access neighborhood.

    Project objectives:

    1. Construct and maintain 2 new hugelkulture beds containing edible flowers.
    2. Increase knowledge and skills of youth regarding the role of edible flowers in nutrition, beautification, and
    pollination.
    3. Participate in our weekly Farmers Market and sell 50 pounds of produce.
    4. Increase organic gardening skills in youth ages 11-17 through guided work sessions, workshops, and classroom
    lessons.
    5. Donate 50 pounds of fruit to ANC’s food pantry program from Edible Park and Fruit Tree project.
    6. Engage 3 local farmers and visit 4 local farms using sustainable agricultural practices.
    7. Facilitate 3 beekeeping sessions with Bee Wise Farms.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.