Tilth Alliance: Youth Garden Works

At Seattle Youth Garden Works, youth ages 16-21 gain a meaningful employment experience in urban agriculture. People from diverse backgrounds come together to grow food and market a wide variety of produce. Through this work, youth and young adults develop leadership skills and personal connections to the food system. The Seattle Youth Garden Works program works with youth who are experiencing food scarcity, housing instability, involvement with the juvenile justice system, or greater than average barriers to employment.

On the farm, youth participate in all aspects of a farm-to-market operation. They learn urban organic farming techniques, marketing and business skills, social-emotional skills, and ways to engage with their local communities through a lens of racial and social justice. The program helps youth achieve educational, financial and employment goals and encourages them to build strong relationships with peers, adult staff and volunteers. Crew members spend about half their time working on the farm. The other half is spent on education and self-development. While the farm is the best teaching tool we have, we supplement it with a well-rounded curriculum that includes cooking and nutrition, financial literacy, job readiness, goal-setting and peer-to-peer feedback. Youth leave the program better equipped for whatever they want to do in life.