Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
- Animal Production: feed/forage
- Crop Production: high tunnels or hoop houses, low tunnels, organic fertilizers
- Education and Training: mentoring, workshop, youth education
- Energy: solar energy
- Farm Business Management: land access
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, drift/runoff buffers, habitat enhancement, Rain gardens
- Pest Management: mulches - general, physical control
- Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems, organic agriculture
- Soil Management: composting, earthworms, green manures, soil microbiology, soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: community development, ethnic differences/cultural and demographic change, food access and security, food sovereignty, leadership development, partnerships, urban agriculture, urban/rural integration
Abstract:
The Urban Food & Ecology Project is a collaboration of seven organizations, representing diverse cultures. Our summer YOUTH STEWARDS will enjoy hands-on experiences in community gardens and at Prairie Rose Farm, under leadership from farmers and gardeners with decades of experience in Sustainable Agriculture.
Project objectives:
1. Introduce underserved BIPOC youth and their families to sustainable community gardening and farming to ensure they have access to fresh food and build a sustainable local food system that unites small-scale new farmers with urban gardeners.
- Increase sustainable farming/gardening skills of 12-20 high school students through hands-on work with urban and rural organic and regenerative farmers and gardeners
- Introduce youth to Food and Ecology career opportunities through interviews and 3 hands-on projects with farmers, grocers, food pantries, and chefs.
4.. Increase agricultural and environmental awareness/literacy, including regeneration, soil health, carbon sequestration, bioremediation, perennial crops, pollinators, and climate adaptations.