Creating Youth Leaders Using Sustainable Urban Agricultural Practices

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: youth education
• Soil Management: soil quality/health
• Sustainable Communities: community development, leadership development, urban agriculture

Over 200 youth participate in urban farming summer programs in Indianapolis, IN with the opportunity to manage their own sites and sell produce at farmer’s markets. Purdue Extension, in partnership with the Felege Hiywot Center (FHC), will develop a youth leadership program around urban farming. The program will provide attendees of the FHC an opportunity to teach neighboring youth organizations urban farming and compost management, as well as how to manage backyard chickens. This will offer leadership development for youth at the FHC, share growing practices with youth throughout the Indianapolis area and create future leaders in urban farming.

1. Create a mentoring system where students are trained to teach their peers on sustainable agriculture practices using Purdue Extension curriculum.
2. Increase sustainable farming skills of students through hands-on work sessions with farmers, a farm manager, Purdue Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) reinforced by farming at school in existing farm plots.
3. Youth will gain knowledge on small flock poultry management, composting production and learn how compost application impacts soil health. Provide youth hands-on soil sampling techniques and knowledge on sustainable soil management practices.
4. Share project results through social media and conference presentations.