Farmer-in-Residence Update

Our 4 Farmer-in-Residence families are off to a tremendous start. We have harvested mustards and lettuce, the squash are blossoming and we're about ready to begin trellising our cucumbers. Work will begin in the next few weeks on new beds at ISA and June Jordan as we prepare to expand our program to incorporate more families.
More Photos.

If you are interested in helping with any of the expansion projects please contact audrey@urbansprouts.org.

Read up on the State of Urban Sprouts

At our recent Garden Brunch fundraising event, we unveiled our plans for the coming year, and how, during this time of growing interest in school and urban gardens, we will share our expertise in garden-based education with more students, parents, and schools.

Read the address here. An excerpt:

We’ve gathered you all here at a time when economic crisis affects us all, whether you or your loved ones have experienced job loss, retirement dreams cut short, or belt-tightening in the household budget, even affecting your day to day food choices. Today, as we look for hope, comfort and meaning, we have a great opportunity to share the power in the simple act of gardening. Victory Gardens kept our country healthy and hopeful during early 20th century wartime and Depression, and our children grew 40% of our country’s produce right in their own school gardens.

With this inspiration, this year Urban Sprouts has launched a brand new program, our Family Farmers-in-Residence program. Read more here -->

Farmer-In-Residence Program Launch

This past Saturday was the official launch of the Urban Sprouts Farmer-In-Residence program! Two families from our partner school, International Studies Academy, spent the morning breaking ground on their campus plots. From now through summer these inaugural families will plant, tend, and harvest their own food on the school campus. Throughout the season we hope to not only grow food but share recipes, stories, and experiences from our diverse food heritage.

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day in the City and a perfect day to prepare the beds, spread compost, and make our crop plans.
We are so excited to be able to offer a program to further engage the students and families that we work with.

We will be breaking ground on our second Farmer-In-Residence site, June Jordan School for Equity, in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more details.

The Dare Family Garden

Last Sunday was a clear warm November day. It could not have been a more enjoyable day to meet the Dare family at June Jordan to break ground for their first garden plot at the school site.

The Dare family has joined Urban Sprouts in the multicultural garden project and planted a winter garden of Pac Choi, Broccoli Raab and Snow Peas! It was a great experience to get to know JJSE student, Marcus, amidst the warmth of his family and to watch them work together to create this shared garden. We look forward to the family story about the chosen crops and the recipe to follow for the harvest!

JJSE Parent Garden

Urban Sprouts is excited to be working with parent groups at their schools. While our programming is effective with youth at school, it is strengthened when parents and families also grow their own food. This year we are looking forward to working with families to develop culturally specific gardens that reflect the rich food heritage and personal stories of the families at our schools!

The other day a June Jordan parent, Romana, came out to plant a winter garden. We talked about the preparation of the crops, Dia de Los Muertos, and Thanksgiving recipes. I look forward to learning more from her about food and cultivating!