SPRINGFIELD YOUTH FARM

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The Springfield Youth Farm is a program that takes youth who may be from a low-income family or troubled backgrounds and gives them the chance to help themselves while helping others. The farm is located at 705 Flamingo Ave. by Game Farm Road. The Youth Farm got started by Food for Lane County.

With the help of local teenagers and volunteers, Food for Lane County turned an empty lot into a productive three-acre organic farm where they are growing organic vegetables for the community. Most of the fresh produce they grow there goes to the Food for Lane County's 60-plus emergency food programs. In 1998 they produced 20,000 pounds; and this year they hope to meet that number or exceed it.

The Springfield Youth Farm hires about 15 local teenagers each season. The teens are around the age of 14-18. The farm helps the teens with high school programs by giving them some job experience. They have to show up on time, be prepared to work, have their lunches with them, all the things you need to get through the day.

The people who run the farm are Jen Anonia and Keith Perchemlides. Keith is the farm manager. He makes most all the decisions about everything on the farm. There is a small area in the front, which is divided into sections for the kids who are on the crew. Each kid gets a small area and they are able to plant and do what they want on that area.

The Springfield Youth Farm is all organic. They do not use any pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals. They use diverse planting, moving the vegetables around every year, never planting the same vegetables in the same spot. The crew also plants many flowers and herbs to bring around beneficial insects that eat bugs and insects, such as marigolds and ladybugs. The crew also does bug picking in the morning when it is cold and the bugs do not move.

During their hands-on experience the kids also have weekly educational classes, which teach them about agriculture, nutrition, and how to run a small business with the help from the volunteers. The kids are expected to work in small groups as well as independently, and they have to complete the projects they started. The farm really stresses the importance of different skills like job, social, and education skills.

During the growing season they always have a large variety of crops for the community. A farm stand sits in the front of the farm where the public can buy organic vegetables at an affordable price. The farm stand offers a variety of things to the public including a weekly membership produce program, garden plots, and workshops to learn about growing.

The Springfield Youth Farm is a fun and educational way for kids to get into the community and help themselves as well as helping others. This program has many educational opportunities out there for school groups as well as the community to learn about gardening. More people need to have projects like these so people can help themselves. Maybe it would alleviate most of our hunger problems around the world today.

 http://www.sps.lane.edu