Planning for the Positive

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead

Greetings from our homes and our urban farm and park sites!
With spring in full swing, our staff is safely at work prepping crop beds, removing garlic mustard, and teaching online cooking courses.  We continue to adapt to the changing landscape as we plan and implement work skills programming for 78 East Saint Paul youth this summer.  New youth will participate virtually and small crews of returning youth will be in the field. We anticipate a few more pivots as the season unfolds and will keep you updated as we move forward-thanks for staying connected!

What We’ve Been Up To

Market Garden Program: 
Jaclyne and Skyler, are exploring new methods for getting even more of our produce into intern households and into the community. Planting in the GROW-IT Center community greenhouse will allow us to get more food growing in the crop plots at an earlier date, increasing overall production. Our CSA has sold out, thanks to everyone who signed up!

We continue to invest in the infrastructure of our crop sites, building all-new compost bins under the direction of Compost Intern, Kelly Bloedorn who is working on her Master’s Degree. We’re also keeping up our support for partners and neighbors developing new community gardens on the East Side of Saint Paul. Garden staff is prepping beds this week for spring plantings. With the risk of snow and frost (hopefully) behind us, they are ready to plant hardy, early-season crops!

Cook Fresh Program: 
Program Manager Saba is hard at work designing a new micro-kitchen to enable small crews of youth to continue their recipe and product development. She is engaging chefs who have participated in chef-led lunches to create videos of recipes from a box of produce and cooking staples that will also be shared with youth interns to make at home. The interns participate in zoom sessions, sharing photos of what they have made at home for their families.

Cook Fresh is also working with a U of MN Public Health intern on illustrated nutritional and kitchen safety handouts that will be included in the pantry staples box interns will receive for virtual training. We are also partnering with East Side Table to provide cooking classes online for the public-these videos have had over 5,000 views/engagements within the past couple of weeks! Check out our Facebook page to watch the videos each week!

Conservation Program:

 Program Director, David is busy experimenting with the native plant propagation of over 50 different species in the GROW-IT Center community greenhouse. He is also preparing four honey bee hives at Rivoli Farm and Restoration Site, hoping to increase honey production and offer more beekeeping instruction to youth interns. The Conservation Program is also planning further additions to and maintenance of the Harvest Park Native Plant Seed Farm, focusing restoration work at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary with the installation of pollinator patches highlighting the different ecosystems in the park, and continuing restoration work at Willowbrook Preserve. David is also busy working on virtual learning programs to employ youth all summer long in meaningful virtual learning.

Opportunities For Giving

We are taking part in a GiveMN campaign, #GiveAtHomeMN!

This year GiveMN is hosting a virtual fundraising event from May 1- 8 for nonprofits and schools all across Minnesota. This weeklong focus on Minnesota organizations will coincide with GivingTuesday on May 5.  As we navigate these difficult times and adapt to keep our programs running and youth employed, consider giving a contribution that works for you-any amount will help sustain our work!

Thanks to all of our supporters, partners and volunteers for your on-going commitment to our youth and programming.