Growing Places Launches New Youth Jobs Program
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Growing Places Indy advocates for urban farming and helps provide produce to food pantries. (photo provided)
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Indianapolis-based nonprofit Growing Places Indy advocates for urban farming and helps provide produce to food pantries. (photo provided)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis-based nonprofit Growing Places Indy is now accepting applications for summer youth jobs, a program that helps high school students gain hands-on farming experience and learn the farm-to-table process.
For 10 years, the organization has operated an urban farming apprenticeship program during the summer months to support new and developing urban farmers.
The program was disrupted last summer because of the pandemic, but it is relaunching this year as its Grow Getters initiative.
“We hope to expose students to career opportunities in agriculture and fully engage them with the local food system to create a pipeline of skilled youth who are interested in sustainable urban farming,” said Growing Places Indy Executive Director Victoria Beaty in an interview with Inside INdiana Business.
As part of the re-launch, the students, for the first time, will get paid during the six-week program. Beaty says Growing Places received a $4,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s youth education grant program to help provide the weekly pay.
“There’s nothing better than getting your hands in the soil and get into work and growing food for people who need it,” said Beaty.
She says the pandemic forced the organization to re-think its business model and focus more on programming and education. As Indianapolis restaurants closed last year during the crisis, Growing Places lost some of its paying customers.
“Most of the food that we grew last year was donated. And thanks to partners that we have this year, we’re actually able to continue to do that,” said Beaty.
In addition to the donations to food pantries, the organization will also still operate its farm market to allow local customers to purchase fresh produce.
The teenagers also have an opportunity to learn culinary arts and food production insight through partnerships with Tyner Pond Farm in Greenfield and Indy-based Cluster Truck.
“Visit their business and learn how they’re using farming and food to be able to start a business or grow their business are talking about just the key part of what their business is,” said Beaty.
To participate in the program, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 18 and are expected to work an average of 15-hours per week for a total of 90 hours over the course of the program. Each student will receive a raised bed garden to tend and will be able to take a share of produce home each week.
The organization is accepting applications until April 30th. Applicants will be notified of acceptance in mid-May.
Click here to learn more about the program.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Growing Places Indy Executive Director Victoria Beaty said the relaunch brings new opportunities.