Growing America: Season 2

PAST Foundation & Ohio State University present

Growing America

26th July – 14th August 2010
Bridge Program: Levels I through III

The Challenge

In addition to the lack of quality agriculture programs providing the full spectrum of food value chain, urban students lack the availability of quality high nutrition valued foods. This lack of access to garden food is directly correlated to the lack of knowledge on how to plan, develop, or manage a home garden. Farmer’s markets strategically placed within an urban center can provide fresh produce to individuals who may not have access to fresh produce. They also serve as an economic advantage for small to large-scale producers as a venue to sell their product. According to Twiss and Dickinson, 2003, “Community gardens enhance nutrition and physical activity and promote the role of public health in improving quality of life. Opportunities to organize around other issues and build social capital also emerge through community gardens.”

The Solution

Growing America Farm to Market offers students access to plan, design, harvest, market, and distribute their own food. We will also give students the ability to learn business ventures in food by holding a student run farmer’s market at the end of each week. This market will give a venue to local producers as well as our student gardens located at OSU Waterman Farm, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Linden McKinley High School.

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The 2010 Program

	Morning Activities	Afternoon Activities
Day
Day 1	Orientation to WANR Begin Harvesting Crops	Hands on Experience
Day 2	Group 1 Harvests Food Group 2 Value Added Products Group 3 Market Planning	Hands on Experience
Day 3	Group Briefing and Switch Roles
Day 4	Plan Market Setup Produce and Signage Bookkeeping	Team Management Hands on Experience
Day 5	Market Day Preparation
Day 6	Market Day!