Sprout it Out Loud! Urban Farmer Apprenticeship (Sprout)

View the project final report

Commodities

• Vegetables: beets, carrots, garlic, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), leeks, peas (culinary), radishes (culinary), sweet potatoes, turnips
• Additional Plants: herbs, native plants
• Miscellaneous: mushrooms

Practices

• Crop Production: cover crops, high tunnels or hoop houses, pollinator habitat, row covers (for season extension)
• Education and Training: demonstration, mentoring, youth education
• Pest Management: mulches - living, mulching - vegetative, prevention
• Production Systems: organic agriculture
• Soil Management: composting, green manures
• Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, local and regional food systems, quality of life, urban agriculture

Sprout pays youth to participate in an intensive apprenticeship highlighting the sustainable urban agriculture practices of Franklinton Farms (FF), including hard sustainable agriculture skills in the areas of production, marketing, and distribution. Additionally, the program will be responsive to the needs of teens in our community by integrating soft skills of mindfulness, self-expression, and collaboration. The project will culminate in a self-articulated community engagement project or research project at the end of the summer at the FF Learning Garden, in their school, or at their home. 

1. To introduce urban youth to financially profitable, personally beneficial, and ecologically sound agriculture opportunities within their own neighborhood
2. To increase specific skills (technical and soft skills) for Urban Sustainable Ag
3. To introduce youth to ways of preparing the local produce
4. To coordinate student-led projects for community outreach/research and allow students to shape FF marketing and community engagement
5. To share the stories and learnings of the youth on social media, with the Franklin County Local Food Council, and at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) conference