I'd be interested in how this may run parellel with what is going on in rural areas. I gew up in the inner city and find many of the same issues exist in rural communities, particularly here in Appalachia. I look foward to reading more about this project.
A vibrant local food system requires engaged, educated and entrepreneurial young adults and workforce re-entry adults who understand and can act on the integrative play in the local food chain across the production to consumption continuum. Moreover, curricula designed to engage, educate and promote entrepreneurism (The Three E's) can advance efforts to promote healthy residents and economically strong communities.
Goodness Grows held three taste tests in June as a part of this project, "Youngstown Eats Local Produce," as I call it. Our focus crops were strawberries, rhubarb, zucchini, and peas. Two sessions were held at Boardman High School with students studying for the Ohio Graduation Test, and one session was with elementary students at Camp Newport, a day-camp and summer lunch program on Youngstown's south side. We had between 15 and 20 students at each tasting, which is ten or twenty students fewer than we expected each time.
Ross, the other interns and I spent some time brainstorming our ideas for the stories we want to tell.We’re aiming for about ten in the next seven and a half weeks.Please give us some feedback about which ideas you think are best, which stories you think people need to hear, etc.These are our ideas so far:
In five vacant lots across the city of Cleveland, things are growing. Not just fruits and vegetables, although there are plenty of those, but also the knowledge and experience of the high school students who tend the gardens. Employed by the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Green Corps program, these students plant, weed, water and harvest in the gardens while learning about agriculture.
This is far away for those of use in the midwest and further west, but the Food Project is an incredible leader in youth engagement in food systems. I have participated in their workshops before and learned a great deal. Just passing along this opportunity for young people and their "allies". -Anne
The Food Project Summer Institute, August 4-6, sign up now!
The time is ripe for young people and their adult allies to step up and change
the food reality in this country. Come learn how to build partnerships with