There are many benefits to community gardens and urban agriculture- the list includes benefits to the environment and the health and wellbeing of community members. Community gardens and urban farms can reduce the impact of food deserts in low-income areas and allow residents greater access to nutritious food necessary to live a healthy life.


Children benefit from community gardens too. The St. Pete Youth Farm (located in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States) is one such story where children, or youth, are bringing success to their community and city. Here is the story:


The Midtown area in the City of St Petersburg has struggled to keep and maintain a grocery store since 2017. It is a food desert, and food and nutrition security is a concern for residents in this low-income area.


Working with the City of St. Petersburg, the community suggested that an urban farm led by youth may be a solution to many of the struggles faced by the community. An urban farm could provide access to locally grown produce (helping correct the food desert in the area and improve nutrition), teach young people how to grow food, and provide programming to teens that promote leadership skills, entrepreneurship, urban agriculture, and wellness.


The City of St Petersburg provided a vacant lot in the neighborhood to jumpstart the project, dubbed the St. Pete Youth Farm. Two community foundations provided funding to hire staff and 15 high school-aged students to start and maintain the operations of the community farm. The St. Pete Youth Farm encourages high school-aged youth (ages 14-19) to apply for internships. Those young people accepted into the program learn essential life skills through every aspect of the operation and maintenance of the facility, from farm to market. This urban farm project encourages creative thinking and personal growth as students learn everything from growing their food to financial literacy, getting them ready to be the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. To date, more than 50 youth have graduated from the program.


At weekly meetings on the farm, the youth learn and practice various things, such as planting and harvesting crops, culinary and nutritional skills, entrepreneurship, communication, financial matters, teamwork, leadership, character development, and artistic self-expression.


The participants learn that we all have a role and responsibility in this cooperative venture. Casual participation is not enough; showing up only to water the plants will not work. The youth learn the importance and value of responsibility and commitment.


The fundamentals of starting an urban farm are simple. Follow the example of the St. Pete Youth Farm and start with your local government. Look for local funding. Lending institutions often have community foundations that could provide start-up funding. Bring the community together to learn about each other's cultures, foods, and recipes and solicit local healthcare providers or educational institutions to offer nutritional education. Religious institutions and local media can help promote the cause. The local government can support starting a farmer's market in a park, and local businesses can provide sponsorship support. Local restaurants can buy produce from the farm. Create an entrepreneurial program for economically disadvantaged youth and connect it to local colleges and universities for education, training, and a path to higher education. The possibilities are enormous.


Children are our future, and this community is growing into a promising future. Your community can replicate this success too.


Photo by Anaya Katlego on Unsplash


For more information and to donate to the St. Pete Youth Farm, please visit: https://stpeteyouthfarm.org/