Program Summary
Goals
The Dallas Youth Garden provides paid summer internships to teens.
Each intern in our program is responsible for developing a 25'x50' market garden using sustainable gardening principals.
Interns gain job and leadership skills, learn agricultural practices, and become aware of the nutrition needs of our community.
All produce from our garden is donated to local food programs for distribution to hungry families in our community.
What is a market garden?
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of a wide range and steady supply of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants during the local growing season.
Who is our market?
Our "market" is the Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program or other food program that provides food to Hungry Families in the Dallas Community.
What are sustainable agricultural practices?
There are many definitions of "sustainable agricultural practices" and these words are often overused. For our garden the following practices will be followed:
Waste Management - Compost and recycle garden waste material.
Soil Fertility - Rely on recycled material such as compost to increase soil fertility.
Pest Management - Minimize use of broad spectrum controls and rely on less intrusive controls such as companion planting and materials that have a minimal impact on the garden environment (soils, plants, insects, etc..).
Water - Minimize use of water through direct water application, drip irrigation, and water conservation practices such as mulching.
Each intern will endeavor to accomplish the following tasks:
Visit the Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program to understand what food is needed and how it is distributed.
Work with advisers and other interns to develop a written plan for a market garden to provide fresh produce for the Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program.
Present and review market garden plans with advisers and other students.
Be present to work on time for scheduled work days.
Plant and maintain a weed free market garden during the summer months.
With Master Gardener and Supervisor identify and address any issues that inhibit vegetable production.
With other members pick and deliver harvest.
Prepare garden for winter.
Maintain a weekly log with pictures of garden progress on the Dallas Youth Garden Web Page.
Make presentations to the adviser's on monthly garden progress and techniques learned.
Complete three leadership projects, one each in garden production, education, and communication.
Obtain $50 in donations to support the program