The Summer 2023 Team  |
We had an incredible Summer! These past 8-weeks of programming, we shared time with 17 Youth Ambassadors and over 200 visiting Youth! We continued to provide our Mental Health Mondays with NewVision Behavioral Health every Monday, along with twice-monthly Mindful Movement with Clayton Sizemore and art programming with NOMAD Studios. We also welcomed Chef McCray for several workshops with our ambassadors covering herbs/spices and utilizing what we’re growing to create delicious dishes.
Our 4th of July was so much fun. Early morning, we were at the St. Pete Run Fest Pier Run to support our partners by holding down the fort at the Cool Down Station. Water and Gatorade at the ready, cooling down runners with water guns, and creating a fun atmosphere with chalk art and bubbles! We’re excited that proceeds from the run will help support the buildout of our Community Clay Oven. |
This past month we also accepted a generous donation of dozens of raised garden boxes from the Church of Nazarene NYC. They held their Youth Conference in Tampa, and one project was building dozens of raised garden boxes. Along with the raised boxes, we also received 3200 buckets, excess lumber and screws, and thousands of dollars to spend at Home Depot. We worked over two weeks with our Youth Ambassadors and volunteers taking apart and modifying the boxes to replace our raised-in-ground beds. One Saturday morning this month, we welcomed members of Radiant Church for their yearly service day. They helped with the project and replaced the first farm bed with the new raised boxes. When we say transformation is occurring, we mean it! |
The fourth Mini Garden Workshop of the year was held this month. We continue to share seedlings with the community. All Mini Gardens come with four easy-to-grow edibles for FREE! Cuban oregano, cranberry hibiscus, okra, pigeon pea, aloe, or tomato plants. Our next workshop is on August 23rd.
The Tampa Bay Watch came out for a hands-on session with our youth this Summer. They taught them more about the Tampa Bay estuary and the animals that make up the Bay. We look forward to engaging with them again to continue education on environmentalism and sustainability!
During our last week of the Summer, we harvested, cleaned, and prepared tilapia with Cuban Oregano pesto and mango salsa we made with Chef McCray; it was delicious. The following day Mayor Ken Welch visited our Ambassadors to engage in meaningful dialogue. |
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For our last day at the farm, we made our way to a nearby neighbor for tree climbing and team-building activities at Pathfinder Outdoor Education. This was an opportunity to make deeper connections and work together as a team. Everyone who worked with us this Summer is returning in the Fall, too!
We’re grateful to Infinite Potential Learning Academy, Cohort of Champions, Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast, YMCA Teen Camp, First Baptist Church Advocacy Camp, Raymond James Financial, and Radiant Church for bringing their groups to the farm. Thank you to those who joined us this Summer to support our work—we appreciate you! We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to our Community Workdays starting next month, August 26th. #TogetherWeGrow |
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Our teens loved having the opportunity to sit down with Mayor Ken Welch during our last week. They learned more about Mayor Welch and his background growing up as a third-generation resident of St. Pete, becoming Pinellas County Commissioner, and later the first Black Mayor of St. Pete. He welcomed their thought-provoking questions and feedback on what they'd like to see change in the city. It's not every day they get to engage with someone in the highest elected position in the City of St. Petersburg. Youth must have access to elected officials that work to serve them to ensure they're empowered to voice their thoughts and concerns.
Thank you Mayor Welch for being a leader our Youth can look up! |
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Community Workdays are BACK! Over the Summer, we take a break from Community Workdays and focus on our extended programming, group visits, and weekday volunteering. Things don't slow down. Our Fall programming kicks off August 14th for our Ambassadors and everyone will be excited to welcome the community back for gathering and volunteering.
Join us on August 26th, 9-11am for some Farm Fun! Always FREE and FAMILY-FRIENDLY! |
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|  | August Mini Garden Workshop Wednesday, 8/23/2023 at 6:30pm
August Community Workday Saturday, 8/26/2023 at 6:30pm
Sept Mini Garden Workshop Wednesday, 9/27/2023 at 6:30pm
September Community Workday Saturday, 9/30/2023 at 9:00am
2nd Annual Farm-O-Ween Saturday, 10/28/2023 at 5:00pm
10th Annual First Night of Kwanzaa Tuesday, 12/26/2023 at 5:00pm |
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| Fox 13 Tampa Bay | July 25th
The St. Pete Youth Farm recently celebrated its fourth birthday, marking an important milestone for the urban farm making a difference in the community. Read more... |
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St. Pete Catalyst | July 5th
More than 1,500 people laced up their running shoes and hit the St. Pete Pier Tuesday for the 3rd Annual St. Pete Pier Run. Read more... |
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