Food For Lane County - Youth Farm and Grassroots Garden
We learned to much by visiting both of these locations. They are are both farms/gardens that produce tons of food for the Lane County food bank, work with diverse groups of people, are integral to creating a healthy and connected community, and they are both managed beautifully and successfully!
The youth farms lays in the middle of a low income neighborhood and is on school land that had been left open from the surrounding development. Ted, the farm manager has been with the project for 5 years and has grown the production area to 6 acres and there is still plenty of room for expansion. He was clearly a skilled farmer and leader to get so much done each year while managing and organizing the teenage interns and other various groups that come out to volunteer.
He mentioned that one advantage that they had at the youth farm, was that everyone knew the organization "Food For Lane County" and their mission to end hunger in Lane County. Because they are so well know, it is easy to get volunteer groups, and other businesses donate potting material, manure and equipment, he even had a local farmer stopping by to help with tilling some land!
Here is the SOFT crew with Ted of Food For Lane County Youth Farm in Springfield, OR.
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