Building on the success of our 2018 Grow @ Home program, in 2019 we continued the program with a focus on youth. Like 2018, 2019’s participants each received a raised garden bed with seeds and seedlings; additionally, youth participated in an urban farm summer camp: Town Grow’r. Our goal was to improve New Waterford’s mental and physical health, strengthen local food security, and mitigate the effects of poverty through regenerative food production.
Youth participants had the opportunity to gain hands-on agriculture and food production experiences through project-based learning that taught the basics of growing, harvesting, cooking, and preserving food. Participants learned employable skills, reduced the impact of increasing food prices, and had the opportunity to sell food and value-add products.
By the end of the season, participants became confident food entrepreneurs with the capability to grow food, start a food-based business venture, and teach others these empowering skills.
