Introduction

Soil Born considers youth our greatest assets. Through training, mentorship, and collaborative projects youth become professors, master chefs, proficient gardeners, and environmental stewards. In addition, favorable lifestyle choices are promoted through guided preparation of healthy snacks and meals, engagement in non-competitive physical activities, and participation in effective communication activities. Currently, the Hurley Way Farm conducts the majority of its education with middle school students from the neighboring school: Jonas Salk High Tech Academy. Youth participate in innovative hands-on activities that focus on connecting youth and adult volunteers with food, health, and the environment during the school day, after school, and summer periods.

Programming periods and focus

• School-day program: focus is on repeat exposure to farm and healthy foods
• After-school program: focus is on leadership and seasonal garden tasks
• Summer program: focus is on job skills and food access for local senior citizens

Activities

Hands-on interaction with agriculture

From the school-day programming that engages around 300 students, to the after-school and summer leadership program, youth plant and harvest a diversity of mixed vegetables and flowers and learn sustainable agriculture practices.

Areas of focus:

• Farm Exploration: Safety and Senses
• Soil Farming: Making Compost
• Plant Needs: Seeding/Planting

Healthy Cooking

Involves harvesting, preparing and cooking seasonal and local organic foods. Students acquire safe food preparation skills, and they develop and utilize recipes that reinforce healthy eating and living practices.

Areas of focus:

• Exploration: exposure to new foods, and developing individual cooking style
• Diversity: emphasis on preparing and eating a wide variety of foods
• Moderation: understanding consumer choices
• Eating the Rainbow: farm fresh rainbow on your plate

Community Service Learning

The main service-learning project focuses on food access and relationship building with the neighboring senior residential facility. During our summer and after-school program youth help plant, harvest, and make food donations to the seniors.

Highlights:

• Set up of weekly market stand for seniors
• Deliveries to home-bound seniors

Partnerships

Youth programs at the Hurley Way Farm offer opportunities for youth to connect with other youth, adults, and other community-based organizations. These partnerships enable youth to develop powerful relationships with others, and they give them a sense of belonging and a deeper connection with their community.

Partners:

• Volunteers from UC Davis, Los Rios Community Colleges, and Sacramento State University
• Youth Services Providers Network (YSPN): Training youth and adult participants how to run a focus group
• Kaiser Permanente, Sierra Health Foundation, and the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop

On the Horizon

Future program additions include:

• Creation of an interactive school garden
• Salad bar featuring food from our farms and the school garden at Jonas Salk High Tech Academy
• Development of a youth-led advisory group to guide the program in the future

School Group Farm Visits

The Hurley Way Farm can accommodate a limited number of schools and groups for field trips for rich and meaningful hands-on learning experiences. We allocate 6-12 slots each year for educational tours and activities at the Hurley Way Farm in addition to our set programs with Jonas Salk Middle School. Sample lessons have included: Exploration Activity, Making Compost, Healthy Harvest and Cooking. Current field trips are geared for youth Kindergarten through 5th grade.

If you are interested in setting up a farm visit, please contact Sara Smith-Rubio, Youth Coordinator: ssmithrubio@soilborn.org

We're sorry - all slots are filled for the 2008 season!

Volunteers

Volunteers are always needed! Learn more.