We continue to try to get the word out about our Kickstarter Campaign, and we would love your advice. Any blogs, radio shows, TV shows we should pursue? Is there a great incentive you would like to see featured?
We are all ears.
If you can think of an incentive that succeeds at making us $2000 closer to our goal, we will send you and a friend out to dinner at one of our favorite locally-sourced restaurants.
Ideas pay.

As we near our 25% mark in the Kickstarter Campaign, I thought I would post our plans for the 1st year of the 1-acre youth farm. Spread the word: we need to re-energize the campaign!

School Garden Curriculum – Because the students have already partnered with CORO to tackle nutrition, the classroom curriculum will focus first on health classes. This spring, students will learn how to cook fresh from the garden, to measure portion sizes, to eat in season, and garden for health. Next fall, we will integrate science curriculum into classrooms including basic composting science, basic soil science and fertility, fertility management for sustainable use, companion planting, seed & seedling care, irrigation, and weed management.

Youth Employment Program – During the summer the farm will employ students to work at the farm, learning leadership, farming and entrepreneurial skills. We hope to work with the Summer Youth Employment Program to hire and train youth every summer. The students will spend 20 supervised hours on the farm learning the science of composting, integrated pest management, water conservation, and soil health. This is an incredible opportunity for the students to not only learn urban agriculture best practices, but also to make group decisions and witness first-hand the economics of running a farm.

Healthy & Affordable Food for the Shool Community – We will be using the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model to ensure financial sustainability of the farm and supply much needed healthy food to the community. Community members will buy shares of the produce at the start of the growing season, and pick up a share once a week from the farm. Using the CSA model will ensure our produce is consumed by our target audience and guarantee income for the farm. With a CSA there are no rained-out days at the farmers market, and the consumers help weather any failed crops. Additionally the CSA will integrate our consumers into the fabric of the farm, providing a stronger connection to the food that nourishes them and the land itself. Students, staff and community volunteers will market, organize, and distribute the CSA shares. We will teach students how to harvest, wash, weigh, bunch, and distribute shares. The process will teach the volunteers leadership and business skills as well as proper harvesting and food preparation techniques.

Spring / Fall Harvest Festivals – In June and October, we will have a block festival revolving around the harvest of produce on site. We will close down the street (HSPS has jurisdiction over Kingston Avenue), and have tents featuring the produce, cooking demonstrations, and local food culture.