Youth Farm Project grows healthy produce for Ithaca

By Gay Huddle
Tompkins Weekly

 

The Youth Farm Project (YFP), located on 10 acres of Danby land, leased from the Ithaca Waldorf School on Nelson Road, has been a collaboration of strength and diversity from its inception. Three Swallows Farm, the Full Plate Farm Collective CSA, Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) and the Southside Community Center all put their heads together in 2009 to create a job experience for youth ages 14 to 18 that exemplifies what it means to work together, learn leadership and communication skills, and to learn to grow food for the Ithaca community.

A core part of the program is the Summer Program, which brings youth together from diverse social and economic backgrounds. Opportunities abound for kids to learn all aspects of farm work, from planting seeds to selling the healthy produce at the YFP’s Mobile Market, which is managed by the students in the program. The administrators of the program believe that working together in the hot sun, learning to cook what is grown, eating together and sharing the harvest with those who need it, have all contributed to the strength of the program. An added bonus for the young members would certainly be the chickens and baby lambs that are on the farm! For more information on participating in the Summer Program please contact Katie Church at youthfarmproject@gmail.com.

Currently entering its ninth growing season, 3 to 4 acres of land will be used to grow vegetable crops and the other 6 to7 acres will harvest cover crops such as red clover, rye, or oats and peas. The food will go to the Ithaca City School District through the Fresh Snack Program, and the Harvest Box Program through the farm’s Mobile Market stand.

 

The Fresh Snack Program serves a free, whole-food fruit and veggie snack to nearly 1,600 Ithaca Elementary School students on a weekly basis. The snacks are as local and organic as possible. This program began at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School in 2008 and continues to expand. Over the years, several dedicated organizations and groups have been a part of the formation, sustainability, and expansion of this program, and it is now proudly part of the Youth Farm Project as a Center for Transformative Action Project.

The Harvest Box Program, which begins on June 18 and runs for 20 weeks, sets up and distributes food in Ithaca from 1 to 2:30 p.m. each Tuesday at McGraw House, 221 South Geneva Street, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. each Friday at Titus Towers, 800 South Plain Street, and from 4 to 6 p.m. each Friday at Southside Community Center, 305 South Plain Street. Even though the produce at McGraw House and Titus Towers is meant for those residents, it has expanded to include some other families. Although it is appreciated if folks join the farm’s e-mail list, it is not required for participation in the program. Produce can be picked up at any of the sights for as much, or as little, wanted. To get on the mailing list please contact Sun Edwards at either sunnysolyoga@gmail.com or (607) 339-8498. This season there will be a sliding scale for weekly full or half shares, and there is no requirement to pick up every week or to pay ahead. The cost of a full share, 8 to 12 items, is $10 to $24 per week, for a one-half share, 4 to 6 items, is $5 to $12 per week.

The Full Plate Farm Collective is a multi-farm organic CSA (community supported agriculture), comprised of founding members Remembrance Farm, Stick and Stone Farm, Three Swallows Farm, and a small network of other local growers. The farms grow over 50 acres of organic vegetables, which are shared through summer and winter CSA shares to households in Ithaca, Trumansburg, and Danby. Each farm grows different crops which are collected for CSA distribution at several sites. At the Youth Farm Project site, a half-acre of produce is grown for a you-pick garden. Learn more at fullplatefarms.webs.com.

The Community Volunteer Days at the farm are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Saturday, rain or shine. Take along a water bottle. Stay as long as you can. Light snacks will be provided. The farm, located at 23 Nelson Road, is on TCAT Route #65. The YFP downtown office is located at 1013 West State Street in Ithaca.