The Grow Gardens Project is planned again for 2009. Youth from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School will be partnered with organic gardening experts to plan, plant and harvest a garden on their school grounds. The project culminates with an opportunity for the youth to sell their produce at the Mill City Farmer’s Market. YEA Corps is replicating this project with other schools and youth groups.

The idea for this project was conceived in 2007 by students from the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Youth Community Learning Initiative in Fergus Falls, MN. The students had the idea to sell the produce from their organic garden. They partnered with YEA Corps to help them create and execute a business plan. The students conducted communication role-plays to prepare for meetings with community business partners to solicit support. They also conducted research to create a pricing strategy for the organic produce. The lessons learned were immeasurable. One student said, “I feel like I really had the power to do something important.”