Project Overview
YENC23-204
Project Type: Youth Educator
Funds awarded in 2023: $6,000.00
Projected End Date: 01/31/2025
Grant Recipient:
Detroit Public Schools Office of School Nutrition Farm & Garden Program
Region: North Central
State: Michigan
Project Manager:
Laura Sajdak
Detroit Public Schools Office of School Nutrition Farm & Garden Program
Commodities
No commodities identified
Practices
No practices identified
Proposal abstract:
Detroit Public Schools Community District's (DPSCD) Office of School Nutrition is starting a Farm Club to introduce middle school students to sustainable urban agriculture and food systems, agriculture careers, and nutrition and cooking skills. The club will be hosted by Drew Farm, a district owned organic and sustainable production farm, and utilize DPSCD farmers and collaborate with community food champions to teach students a range of hands-on agricultural and nutrition lessons. Students in the Drew Farm Club will learn about and form positive relationships with local food, and those that grow it.
Project objectives from proposal:
1. Introduce 40-50 middle school students to the complexity of sustainable urban agriculture and food systems through hands-on learning, with 20 to 25 students involved per program year.
2. Expose youth to potential career opportunities in sustainable agriculture by inviting local community partners, farmers, and professional chefs to share their expertise and career journey during 15 learning sessions over two program years.
3. Build and foster positive and empowering relationships with food by introducing students to new foods through monthly taste tests, cooking demos, and exotic fruit/vegetable planting, with the intent of connecting these activities to their everyday life.
4. Develop student skills in the kitchen and on the farm (such as knife skills, seed starting and transplanting) that they will utilize in both their daily lives and in future educational pursuits.
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.