Rain or shine, the Food Share’s Youth Farmers used their spring break to get ready for another productive summer season.
“Spring training is the first taste of the Youth Farm for any who are interested in participating in the summer program,” said Ava Ryan, manager of the Youth Farm.
It’s James’ second year spending the summer at the Food Share’s Youth Farm, a six-acre urban farm and educational site located on Chemeketa Community College’s campus. It will be his first summer as a crew leader, leading other Youth Farmers in their work. He was one of the first to sign up for spring training — a requirement for applying to be a part of the summer farm crew.
The two-day training session includes an introduction to farming, as well as fun, hands-on activities that teach lessons about ecology, community, and nutrition. They get their feet wet with a few farm chores, too, to gain a sense of what their summer will be spent doing: seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting, and preparing fresh produce for families in need.
“During spring training, we’ve been discussing the plant ecosystems and our methodology around dry farming,” James said. “We’ve also been clearing our hoop houses to prepare for summer.”
Throughout the 10-week summer program, James and his fellow Youth Farmers will grow more than 40 types of fruits and vegetables using organic methods. They will also learn how to run a small farm business, support their community, and prepare for college or a career. The food they harvest will go to food pantries, partner health clinics, Youth Farmers, and their families.
“I love getting to bring home broccoli and cauliflower because those are my favorites,” James said. “My family is big on veggies.”
Thank you for your generosity!
Marion Polk Food Share would like to thank:
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Esther Schuette Gerstacker and Carl Gerstacker Fund of the Midland Area Community Foundation
Marion-Polk County Medical Society
OnPoint Community Credit Union
and community members like you for supporting the Youth Farm and the Farm Share Rx Program so that we can provide nutritious, healthful food to our neighbors facing hunger.
