Asibara Forest: A Food Forest Initiative

Project Overview

YENC26-256
Project Type: Youth Educator
Funds awarded in 2026: $6,000.00
Projected End Date: 04/15/2028
Grant Recipient: Asibara Forest
Region: North Central
State: Michigan
Project Manager:
Derrienne Reese
Asibara Forest

Commodities

No commodities identified

Practices

No practices identified

Proposal abstract:

Our project engages youth with regenerative agriculture through hands-on learning in a developing food forest, where participants explore sustainable farming practices such as composting, soil health, and ecosystem balance. Over the past two years, we've built an outdoor classroom that serves as both a learning space and a community hub.

The innovative aspect of our project is the integration of farming and permaculture with experiential education, fostering a connection to the land and career exploration in agriculture. By sharing our methods with other educators and growers, we aim to provide a replicable model for those working in similar settings nationwide.

Project objectives from proposal:

Increase knowledge of regenerative agriculture for 100 homeschool families by developing a food forest that also serves as an educational hub. When not used for programming, the space will remain open for families to explore and learn at their own pace.

Youth will engage with practices such as composting, plant care, and soil systems while also exploring economic aspects of farming and community-based food systems.

Outcomes:

  • 30+ family visits per month
  • 25 hands-on gardening projects completed by youth
  • 5 career exploration sessions with farmers or nature-based professionals
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.