This document discusses potential partners and programs for a new farm-to-table initiative focused on youth education and workforce development. It considers partnering with existing youth programs, schools with farming programs, technical assistance organizations, urban farm organizations, and high schools with urban agriculture curricula. Pros and cons are listed for each option. The initiatives goals are to find interns, build farming capacity and experience for youth, and fit with school schedules and curriculums.
2. How to find interns?
POTENTIAL PARTNERS PROS CONS
- Builds on existing internship
Fresh Air Fund: program - Find additional partnership(s)
- Can send kids to either an for farm training
urban or rural farm for training
- Direct path to youths in
- May have to conform to existing
community with farming interest/
youth programs curriculum and
Existing Urban Farm With Teen experience
timing
Program: - Farming capacity built-in and
- May limit youth pool to teens
local
local to those farms
- Youth education capacity built-in
- Curriculum in place
- How to fit in with school year
Schools With Existing Farm - Network of educators
timing and curriculum
Program: - Access to youths with existing
interest
- May have limited focus on
- Excellent facilitators for youth youths
programs, farming, awareness- - May have limited capacity (often
Farming Technical Assistance
raising and fundraising volunteer-based)
Programs:
- Existing network in farming - May have more focus on rural
community and greenmarkets farms than urban
- Garden focus and small scale
- Grassroots, community focus
- Volunteer-based--very limited
Community Garden Programs: - Could take approach of starting
capacity
“Craft Garden”
- Informal programs
3. Urban Farm Organizations
Added Value
Mission/Overview:
A non-profit promoting the sustainable development of Red Hook
Location:
by nurturing a new generation of young leaders. Creates
Red Hook,
opportunities for the youth of South Brooklyn to expand their
Brooklyn
knowledge base, develop new skills and positively engage with
their community through a socially responsible urban farming
enterprise.
East New York Farms
Mission/Overview:
Aims to organize youth and adult residents to address food issues
Location: in the community by promoting local and regional sustainable
East New York, agriculture and community-based economic development. ENYF
Brooklyn grows food for the community, engages youth in agricultural
learning and leadership, develops economic opportunities through
a neighborhood farmers’ market; preserves community gardens as
open space; and educate residents about healthy food and
environments.
4. Technical Assistance Organizations
Mission/Overview:
Improves NYC quality of life through environmental programs. “Learn It, Grow
Possible Role: It, Eat It” is a collaborative effort of 3 CENYC programs (Open Space
- Facilitator of program Greening, Greenmarket, Environmental Education) that improves the health of
Council on the
- Make connections between youth young people through nutrition education and improved food access in their
Environment
and farming schools and communities. The project gives students nutrition information;
- Fundraising assistance helps them make the connection between the environment and food
consumption through gardening; and introduces healthy food choices with in-
school food preparation featuring Greenmarket produce.
Mission/Overview:
Just Food connects local farms to NYC neighborhoods and communities by
Possible Role:
uniting local farms and city residents of all economic backgrounds with fresh,
- Facilitator of program
seasonal, sustainably grown food. Just Food fosters new marketing and food-
Just Food - Make connections between youth
growing opportunities that address the needs of small and medium family
and farming
farms, urban gardeners, and NYC neighborhoods. Through training, leadership
- Fundraising assistance
development and organizing efforts, JF builds diverse partnerships to advance
dialogue and action on farming, hunger and nutrition.
Mission/Overview:
NYRP carries out Founder Bette Midler’s dream of a cleaner, greener NYC. by
restoring, revitalizing and developing under-resourced parks and community
Possible Role:
gardens throughout the city, working to ensure that every and neighborhood
- High profile partner
has access to green spaces. By providing educational and community
NY Restoration - Program support
programming, NYRP also works to instill respect for nature and responsibility
Project - Involvement through
for contributing to environmental sustainability. Serving as a centerpiece for
development of Bronx urban farm
NYRP educational outreach, the Bronx Urban Farm will host workshops on
subjects including organic farming, cooking demonstrations, healthy eating
seminars and other activities designed to engage local residents and
community youth.
5. High Schools With Urban Agriculture Curricula
Fully developed program for students to gain
John Bowne High School,
education and experience in agriculture. On-site
Queens
farm.
