Happy Birthday West Side St. Paul Program

Choua and Mai Ngia at the initial West Side farm in 2000

11 years ago today, the West Side of St. Paul YFMP had their first work day to create their initial farmsite. It was cold and wet, but we had a strong group of 10 kids and another 12 community volunteers as we spread 15 yards of compost over a 50’x30′ plot of land into our first West Side farm. Our first summer on the West Side, there was 1 small farm, 3 staff and 15 kids. In 2011, as we move into our 12th year on the West Side, we work with over 300 kids in the neighborhood in both the summer and school year programming, have 5 garden sites, a year round greenhouse, and are strong providers of healthy food to the neighborhood (over 3,000 lbs. last year). It is this kind of long term commitment to the youth of a neighborhood that results in lasting impact. Thanks to all those who have supported our efforts on the West Side and all our other neighborhoods. We look forward to all of our new adventures in the coming decade.

Farm Cooking in the Classroom

When you hear our name, Youth Farm and Market Project, you might think all we do is grow food, but cooking with youth and families has become such an important part of our work.  Check out this article written by Jessica Henrikson in the Minneapolis Examiner.com

Building Successful Youth Gardens Training

YFMP staff are collaborating with Gardening Matters, Community Design Center of MN, U of M Landscape Arboretum, and Midwest Food Connection to present about elements of Building Successful Youth Gardens. This 4 hour training will be held on Friday April 1st at Urban Ventures in S. Minneapolis. Please click here to find out more information and how to register.

Lead Outreach Planning

On Monday the Lyndale Lead were developing an outreach plan for a community food assessment. Here are a couple photos from the meeting, courtesy of Sally Hagler Peterson. More info from the Lead on the project to come…

Welcome to the new website!

We are ringing in the New Year with a new website that will make it easier for us to share news, events and programs of the Youth Farm and Market Project.

Check back often to see what we have been up to!

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