Mission Statement
Our mission is simple. We farm to grow. We grow leaders. We provide year round programs for youth ages 9 - 24. We farm to educate and train through gardens and greenhouses. We cultivate leadership through planting, growing, preparing and selling the food we grow.
We grow food. From raspberries to radishes we seed, plant, grow and harvest our food and bring it to our communities forks. We feed families through our CSA, community dinners and other neighborhood events. We grow community. We live and work in vibrant and diverse Minneapolis neighborhoods of Lyndale, Powderhorn and Hawthorne as well as Frogtown and the West Side neighborhoods in Saint Paul. We grow progress. Since 1995 we've created and implemented a development model that grows with our youth to challenge them where they're at with projects and leadership opportunities tailored to a variety of ages and abilities.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
Over the last year, Youth Farm has engaged almost 500 youth ages 9-24 in quality youth development activities, building their leadership skills through food focused activities and programming. Over 166 families received access to week produce deliveries, more than 8,000 healthy meals were prepared and eaten by Youth Farmers.
Current Goals
Youth Farm goals are:
Youth Farm develops and nurtures healthy relationships;
Youth Farm creates neighborhood connectedness and opportunities for contribution;
Youth Farm contributes to the positive identity of children and youth;
Youth Farm promotes healthy bodies and minds; and
Youth Farm builds young leaders.
Community or Constituency Served
Youth Farm works within a unique progressive program model, where outcomes of each program build upon the outcomes of the previous set. Youth Farmers (ages 9-11); All Stars (ages 12-13); Project LEAD (ages 14-18) and Farm Stewards (ages 19-24).
Geographic Area Served
5 neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities. Lyndale, Powderhorn and Hawthorne in Minneapolis and The West Side and Frogtown in Saint Paul.
