Garden Time
Garden Time at the Remington House is a Horticultural Therapy program focused on instilling vocational skills, health, and social responsibility in its youth participants. We are partnering with various organization to work with at-risk youth in the Fort Collins community, in order to impact the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of our city. The program runs from March to September.
The 2010 growing season focused on a pilot program in collaboration with the Remington House, a residential foster care facility and detention center for youth ages 10 to 18. This program focused on imparting vocational, group and leadership skills to the youth, while providing 500 pounds of fresh produce for the onsite kitchen where program participants assisted in the preparations of their own meals. Staff at the Remington House have noted marked differences in the kinds of food youth residents are willing to eat as a result of this program.
The 2011 growing season brought new additions to Garden Time. The youth participants gained business and entrepreneurship skills while running a small farm stand for the Remington House and Jacob Center staff.
For 2012, TGP plans to expand Garden Time by installing a hoop house and enriching the program with garden-to-table nutrition and cooking classes. Additionally, a 10' x 10' demonstration garden will be installed at the Jacob Center so that Remington House students may work alongside their family advocate mentors and grow produce for the foster families involved with the Jacob Center.
The success of Garden Time depends on community support. Regular, committed volunteers are needed to work alongside the youth in the garden. For more information, contact volunteer@thegrowingproject.org.
The Growing Project is also interested in piloting Garden Time with other organizations. Please contact Megan at megan@thegrowingproject.org for more information.
 |  |
