Welcome to Youth Grown!
- Youth Grown crew after the first day!
Youth Grown is collaboration between Northwest Youth Services, Common Threads Farm, and the Whatcom Volunteer Center. This multifaceted program utilizes a seed-to-market garden project to help youth acquire the skills they need to be successful in a variety of contexts. This program provides opportunities for participating youth to gain valuable experience working in a team setting. Youth work with community volunteers and staff in all aspects of the gardening process- from preparing the garden and planting the seeds, to bringing the harvest to market. We just completed our first pilot season in November, and by all accounts it was a success. We had 8 youth contribute 170 hours to the Youth Grown project and 20 community volunteers contributed another 263 hours. We sold over $200 worth of produce at our market stand and to local restaurants, but more importantly, were successful at creating a supportive environment where everyone that was a part of the garden team was able to cultivate their own personal growth and witness the growth of others. We would like to extend our thanks to all the youth and volunteers for their dedication and hard work.
How does it work?
Hard at work.
Youth Grown is part of Northwest Youth Services’ Vocational Readiness programming. Interested participants must fill out an application and interview with staff before they are allowed to work in the garden—just like they would have to do for a job. Participants commit to at least a month of service, starting at the beginning of each month. Youth will then be responsible for coming to work on time, being accountable for their actions, and for communicating their own needs and expectations in a good way. Once their month of service is complete, they will have the opportunity to continue with the project if they choose to—taking on more of a gardening-mentor role for the next cohort that starts. Participants work with NWYS staff outside of their gardening responsibilities to help relate how the transferrable skills they are obtaining fit in with their own personal educational and vocational goals.
Benefits to our participants are that Youth Grown:
The wheel barrow line!
- Develops leadership skills
- Promotes teamwork in a fun, non-threatening environment
- Promotes self-sufficiency and food security by teaching how to grow their own food
- Provides business and customer service lessons through marketing and sales of products
- Helps to develop strong and healthy communication skills
- Provides an opportunity to develop personal and professional support networks
- Provides work experience and skill development that strengthens their resume
- Gives youth practice applying and interviewing for a job
If you would like more information on Youth Grown, or to find out how you can become involved, please contact Jason Dallmann at jasond@nwys.org or (360) 734-9862 ext.131
If you would like to make a monetary donation directly to the Youth Grown program, please click the following link:
