Youths are learning about agriculture and the benefits of hard work while building friendships and supporting their community through the Shoots n’ Roots Youth Co-operative.
“We saw a need to have a place for youth that was going to be a safe place and give them something to do in the summer but at the same time would allow them to develop friendships and skills that would help them in the future,” said Mai Miner president of the board for the West Willow Community Development Co-operative.
Members from Shoots n’ Roots welcomed people to visit their urban farm in Castlebury Park Saturday where they are growing a variety of crops including corn, beans, kale, lettuce, tomatoes and potatoes.
“They are showing off everything they have grown and the knowledge they have gained,” said farm facilitator Celeste Lopreiato. “We have about three quarters of an acre but we are only using around a quarter of that right now. We have opportunity to expand to the road.”
The two-month program runs during the students' summer vacation but for many it is an educational experience.
“Some of our youth had never seen some of these crops or didn’t even know that these vegetables existed,” said Lopreiato. “Some are coming from food insecure homes. So, this is not only teaching them these vegetables exist, that they taste good and how to cook them but it’s teaching them how much work it takes to get them from the farm to their table. A lot of them are surprised by how tired they are at the end of the day.”
Shoots n’ Roots member Matthew Burlock gave Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield a guided tour of the operation.
“I have gained so many new skills this year,” said Burlock. “Social skills was one thing I wanted to improve on and I feel like I have definitely improved on that. I wanted to learn more about how to take care of plants and grow them and I have learned a lot more about that.”
Longfield is a member of the Standing Committee for Agriculture and Agri-Food and therefore sees the wider benefits of the Shoots n’ Roots program.
“We were looking at how you get youth interested in agriculture,” said Longfield. “There are lots of jobs in agriculture. The country needs farmers and here’s a great example of students learning what it means to keep weeds down and to keep nutrients in the soil using organic methods of farming.”
Wood chips used as ground cover to suppress weeds are provided through the Children’s Foundation’s Trees for Tots initiative.
“Food from these gardens goes to the lunch and breakfast programs that The Children’s Foundation puts on,” said Longfield. “So, Trees for Tots support the farm and the farm supports Trees for Tots. It is just a great circle there.”
Students can use their time on the farm toward school credits and volunteer hours and they also profit from their labour.
“We sell our produce at weekly markets,” said Lopreiato. “There is the Wednesday market downtown and we also have our own Thursday evening market at Westwood School. The youth are in charge of preparing all the produce and running our markets and at the end of the day they get to split the profits and take it home.”
Shoots n’ Roots and related day camps provide summer jobs for 18 students.
“The program helps students that would otherwise find it hard to find a job and get any type of job skills, even basic skills we take for granted,” said Miner. “Getting out of the house, socializing with other people, customer service, riding a bus. These are skills the kids are learning in a safe environment.”