The new Guelph Youth Farm at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph, piloted by the SEED and partners, launches on July 7 on Westmount Road.
The farm is a social enterprise community food project led by youth who will be mentored and supported by a coalition of local businesses, public institutions and not-for-profit organizations.
It is estimated that upwards of 1,800 local youth will have opportunity to participate in this new project.
A core group of 20 youth will be the lead entrepreneurs of the farm for the full duration of the 2017 pilot year.
Two hundred additional youth will be trained to play an active role in supporting the farm, and another 1,600 youth will take part in one-off training workshops and events.
The farm is focused on youth training, youth leadership and youth employment. It is operating as a social enterprise, using the sales of fresh organic produce to fund a variety of youth programs and events.
Youth are involved at every level, from project visioning and planning to growing and selling fresh organic produce. But the farm is about a lot more than just food. Participating youth animate educational programs and public events, network with local food businesses, mentor other youth, and will be hosting a youth food conference in the fall.
The project is a collaboration of several partner organizations.
Lead partners include Guelph Community Health Centre’ SEED food project, Everdale teaching farm and St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph.
This first program being launched at the farm is called the Local Food Jobs program. The farm employs youth aged 18 to 25 who are out of work and school, to do an intensive eight-week work placement and training at the farm.
Following the training, youth are supported to find jobs in the local food sector.
For more information visit theseedguelph.ca/gyf.
