A Youth-led, Designed and Innovated Market Garden Program
Donazione protetta
Hi,
My name is Daniel Souza, for almost two years now I have collected food waste from local businesses and created a compost product that regenerates our local soils. As a part of this mission, I have focused heavily on providing education to youth across the Northern Rivers - in the form of interactive workshops.
Whilst striving to develop a solution for the food waste dilemma we face both locally and nationally, I developed an idea to combat the systemic and structural challenges faced by aspiring regenerative farmers in the Northern Rivers.
The idea: A youth-led, designed and innovated market garden program and future regenerative agriculture hub. Green for Youth will provide access to land, education and firsthand experience for future farmers whilst simultaneously improving community food security and combating climate change.
Through the creation of a regenerative market garden program which promotes resource efficiency and the power of community, we can begin to overcome challenges faced by our future farmers.
Here in lies the importance of the program. The platform to be seen, valued and heard will provide participants with a purpose that is greater than themselves, by coming together to share and learn we can change our future for the better. Our aim is to engage a new generation of composters. The new generation will face environmental challenges with bravery and innovation, ensuring food security and providing education to their peers and community for years to come.
The Program:
Will be guided by the principles of regenerative agriculture and have a community food waste composting element. Green For Youth will provide access to a shared space, to be farmed and managed by the cohort themselves. Providing youth leaders with the opportunity to guide outcomes and build capacity to positively affect local economic and political systems.
Addressing the community need for a platform to allow youth leaders to experience firsthand the running and operating of a regenerative farm. By providing information, tools and guidance that will allow youth leaders to cultivate a solution for the development of a long-term sustainable space, young people can learn to take effective action on environmental issues in their own way.
Youth leaders will undertake a 12-week regenerative agriculture educational program led by highly experienced practitioners from our local community. This education will promote youth innovation and leadership, empowering them to reach their full potential. Every year a new cohort will be selected to partake in the Green For Youth program. As a result, the youth cohorts will further develop the land, solutions and initiatives to create the basis of learning for many future farmers of the Northern Rivers, who participate in the program after them.
Opportunities and direction will be given to the youth leaders, but ultimately the outcomes of principal decisions will be made by them. This means deciding what to grow, how to ensure long term sustainability of the project and finally, undertaking the growing-to-market process themselves. The program is a full-scale immersion into what is required to run a successful regenerative market garden without the associated financial risk.
With Your Help
Every dollar contributed to our project will have a direct impact on the success of our youth-led regenerative market garden. Here is a breakdown of how your support will help:
- The creation of program framework, guidelines and education principles. These educational initiatives will empower the chosen youth cohort with the skills and knowledge to successfully design and innovate a solution that will be viable for future generations.
- Cover the costs of essential infrastructure that will enable regenerative principles and work processes to take place. Infrastructure will include learning facilities, growing systems, irrigation, tools and any other necessary supplies. This foundational support will ensure the farm is equipped with the necessary tools to thrive within its means.
- Supporting community outreach efforts. Organising local markets, community workshops and engaging our Northern Rivers community on the purpose of regenerating our soils and how the actions of the youth-led market farm are facilitating this.
- Access and inclusivity for youth. One of the main missions here is to provide free education for the youth cohort. Your contributions will facilitate participation regardless of financial situation. The participating youth cohort will receive fresh produce from the farm in exchange for their hard work and effort. Participants will also receive foundational membership access for lifetime reduced cost produce.
- Improving employability and the providence of a life changing experience. The group will share the workload required to run a market garden, ranging from field work to back end operations such as budget management & reporting, marketing, documentation and work scheduling. The first hand experience of running a business will build the capability and self-efficacy of the group whilst empowering them to fulfill their potential.
We strongly believe that education should be accessible by all. We also believe that knowledge empowers us to make health choices for ourselves and the environment. With your contributions we can begin to develop a long term and sustainable solution that will provide health and wellbeing for countless members of our community.
Thank you for your time.
We truely do appreciate your help - Big and Small. So if you are able to donate, we will be forever grateful.
Kindly,
Daniel Souza
p.s If you would like to help in any other way - reach out!
Organizzatore
Daniel Souza
Organizzatore
Fernleigh, NSW