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Green Youth Farm Teaches Teens Organic Farming
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by ACBert | July 30, 2008 at 05:45 pm
419 views | 19 Recommendations | 5 comments
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Chicago’s west side doesn’t boast a plethora of green space, but in one corner of the city’s Lawndale neighborhood, an organic farm has engaged local youth and supplied yummy fresh veggies for residents. With help from the Chicago Botanic Garden, 15 neighborhood teens keep the Green Youth Farm operating by dedicating about 20 hours per week to digging out the weeds and planting a variety of fruits and vegetables. The teenagers don’t boast the same farming experience as their rural counterparts, but with a little experience, the kids have learned lessons on everything from composting to all the effort put in to tomato growing.
At a farm stand, the teens also sell the produce to the community. They'll brew sun tea flavored with their fresh basil, and cook up healthier lunches each week for the neighborhood -- an experience also changing the way they eat.
"I started eating a little bit healthier because I used to go the restaurant like almost every day and eat fast food," said Talonda Williams.
"I eat eggplant, I never eat eggplant," Coleman said. "I eat red lettuce."
All the results of the fruits -- and vegetables of their labor.
The teens work an average of 20 hours per week and will earn about $1500 each by the end of the summer.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (5)
at 21:23 on July 30th, 2008
ACBert, I like this story. It's good stuff.
That is a great Idea. We used to do similar things on our Farm as well!
at 22:30 on July 30th, 2008
ACBert, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 06:59 on July 31st, 2008
ACBert, I like this story. It's good stuff. A great way to teach and promote important skills.
at 08:21 on July 31st, 2008
Thanks all! It's definitely a fantastic idea for turning empty lots into something useful and it perked up my ears when I heard they learned about composting since I have a worm farm here in the city. :)
at 14:43 on July 31st, 2008
ACBert, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I love local fruits and veggies!