Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
This project engages youth ages 6-14 in hands-on regenerative agriculture centered on soil health. Youth are grouped by age to ensure developmentally appropriate learning through observation, storytelling, and applied practice. Participants learn through a soil health comparison trial, composting and worm composting activities, and small-scale-adapted lessons such as The Adventures of Sammy Soil. The approach is innovative because it adapts proven SARE-supported tools for small spaces and treats youth and educators as co-learners. Lessons, adaptations, and outcomes are documented and shared through educator workshops and toolkits, helping other educators teach regenerative agriculture despite limited space, time, and resources.
Project objectives from proposal:
Youth will learn regenerative agriculture through hands-on farming focused on soil health, composting, and varied crop plantings. Ecologically, youth observe how compost and mulch improve soil structure, moisture retention, and plant health through a soil health comparison trial. Economically, youth explore how regenerative practices reduce input costs and increase productivity in small spaces. Through participation in local food systems, youth help decide what is grown and how food is shared. Career exploration includes interactions with farmers and Extension educators, highlighting pathways in farming, compost systems, and local food systems leadership.