Urban Tilth

Our Urban Agriculture Youth Apprentice program is a rare opportunity for West County youth to join a dynamic and positive group of their peers for a life changing summer of intensive urban agriculture training, community engagement, mind-opening field trips and paid summer employment.

During the course of this intensive 10-week program youth are placed on small crews at our 11 community and school gardens where they learn to work together to grow fresh, healthy organic food for our community while developing meaningful skills.

When we say meaningful skills we mean it! By the end of the program youth Apprentices are able to: 1) identify at least 20 invasive plant species (weeds), 20 native plant species and 20 edible plants species, 2) weed effectively using their new knowledge of plant life cycles to truly control weeds, 3) sheet mulch using their new knowledge of photosynthesis so that weeded areas remain under control, 4) use math and geometry to plan and build raised beds and other small scale carpentry projects, 5) transplant seedlings 6) Sow seeds in beds, rows and trays 7)top dress garden beds mulch pathways and planted areas 9) water effectively and efficiently 10) create to scale site maps for garden projects 11)install and plan drip irrigation systems 12) use protocol to properly take soil samples 13) collect seed for seed saving projects 14)properly prune bushes, shrubs and trees 15) use hand and some power tools safely, 16) learn to cook at least 3 basic garden fresh meals 17) run a farmer’s market stand 18) research and design our new Edible Forest Project in partnership with the US Forest Service! 19) lead door to door outreach so that community members can get more involved and 20) coordinate large numbers of volunteers to accomplish larger goals at our 2nd Saturday Greenway Gathering events!

Apprentices also gain knowledge! Through awesome field trips, trainings and activities they will gain a basic understanding of key concepts in Nutrition, Holistic Health, Community Building and Urban and Agricultural Ecology such as the importance of eating healthy, exercise and stress reduction techniques as well as how the water cycle, photosynthesis, composting and pollination work, the difference between perennial/annual/biennial plants, techniques in water conservation, the difference between organic versus conventional farming, food deserts and how to use a planting calendar. By the end of the summer, after using or encountering each of these basic concepts in real situations they will be able to share their new knowledge with their immediate families and extended community.

The Urban Tilth Youth apprentice program truly changes lives! And how do we know this? Well, 90% of our current staff started as youth apprentices, Now, many of them are leading work days, workshops for youth and adults all over the Bay Area, planning and installing garden projects at local churches and other community organizations. The Apprentice Program gave them the opportunity they needed to prove that they are the leaders and thinkers and dreamers we have been waiting for!

Change the lives of 30 teens this summer… support our summer Apprentice program!

Although, Urban Tilth has the seed funds necessary to go forward with this year’s program we still a little more support to make this year’s program great. We need your help to raise the remaining funds we need by June 30th to get our youth off the couch and keep them off the streets this summer. Help us offer 30 new youth a chance to discover the leaders they are meant to be.

Any contribution you can give will help us take these new apprentices to new places in the Bay Area, their minds and their hearts.

Please join us in this effort to re-imagine, reinvigorate and FEED our youth and our community this summer. You can make a tax-deductible and secure donation online by using the Network for Good “Donate Now” button or click here to find out how you can sponsor specific items we will need to make this summer a sweet success!

In gratitude. the whole Urban Tilth team!