Planting the SEEDS

If you recall several months ago (when I was still learning how a blog works, so forgive the sad little photos), I volunteered at the Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm for the Eastern Triangle Farm Tour. Several weeks ago, I did it again.

This time I volunteered at SEEDS in Durham, NC, a wonderful non-profit that focuses on teaching the young people of the city to “care for the earth, themselves and each other through a variety of garden-based programs.” About 12 high school students from the Durham Public Schools receive small stipends to work after school, learning to farm, run a food business, and participate in leadership development. They learn about issues of social and economic justice, food safety and security, and environmental sustainability.

On this day, they served as impressive tour guides for visitors from around the state.

SEEDS is more than a urban garden for youth, however; they actually sell their produce at the Durham Farmer’s Market every week. From giant peppers to luscious lettuces to succulent eggplants, these youngsters grow, harvest, and sell their produce grown from their own Durham Inner City Garden located right across from their educational garden space. The students even manage their own bee apiaries to make their honey.

Every Friday evening, instead of hanging out at the mall or watching TV, these young gardeners also share their week’s lessons and discuss issues of relevance at the fire pit. A program called SEEDlings reaches out to even younger children with an afterschool program that teaches them how to care for the earth, grow and enjoy food. There is even an outdoor clay oven where the youngsters make their own pizza with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and herbs grown with their own hard work.

In a time when we hear about the terrible, horrible state of our youth, it is so heartening to know that if the young people of SEEDS are the stewards of our Earth, we might be OK after all.

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