The Food Project: Youth. Food. Community.

LucasThe following blog was written by Food Project intern Lucas Munson. Lucas is 17 years old and lives in Arlington, Mass. He participated in The Food Project's Summer Youth Program in 2011 and in the Academic Year Program during the following school year. Currently, Lucas is an academic year intern.

Hey, my name is Lucas Munson, and I've been with The Food Project since the summer of 2011. What I have found most fascinating about The Food Project (TFP) is how it creates such a powerful network in such a large area. The Food Project helps each youth, myself included, develop a far greater understanding of what really is Boston. Whether a youth is from Boston, the suburbs, or the North shore, they are required to travel to a different part of the metro area for work. For me, this meant venturing to the heart of Roxbury.

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Kenny (top, left) as an Assistant Crew Leader The following blog was written by Food Project intern Kenny Lopez. Kenny is 18 years old and lives in Boston, Mass. He participated in The Food Project's Summer Youth Program in 2010. He participated in the Academic Year Program in 2010-11; worked as a summer intern in 2011; and served as an assistant crew leader both for the Academic Year Program in 2011-12 and for the Summer Youth Program in 2012. Currently, Kenny is an academic year intern. 

My name is Kenny Lopez. I am 18 years old and I currently live in Boston. I have been working here at The Food Project since summer of 2010.

Throughout my journey here at The Food Project, I have met some amazing people that have and are still changing my life. Before The Food Project I struggled with my confidence and even my capabilities as a person. Being here has helped me realize that as a youth I am capable of change, and now I feel confidence in myself.

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   Due to a forecasted winter storm, this event has been postponed.   
  Please check back soon for details about the new date and exciting additions to the program!   

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The Food Project's Farm at Ingalls Elementary in LynnThe following blog was written by Food Project intern Josh Hill. Josh is 17 years old and lives in Marblehead, Mass. He participated in The Food Project's Summer Youth Program in 2011, and went on to participate in the Academic Year Program and Internship Program.

Hi, I’m Josh Hill from Marblehead and I’ve been with The Food Project since 2011.

The amount of support I have found at The Food Project never ceases to amaze me. I feel like I am constantly being pushed upward, encouraged to jump high, work hard, and stay strong. Whether I want to change the world or one life, The Food Project has given me strength to make a difference.

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Alex with an Ingalls School Kindergarten ClassFoodCorps service member Alex Freedman probably never thought that his year of service would include selling socks and underwear. Alex serves with CitySprouts at the school gardens at Ford and Ingalls Elementary Schools in Lynn, Mass. To raise money for his gardens, Alex has partnered with the WholeKids Foundation, Indiegogo, and PACT organic clothing to develop a crowdfunding campaign. Over the next few weeks, Alex hopes to raise $2500 to support construction and expansion of the school gardens and Ford and Ingalls. Donors to his campaign, run through Indiegogo, receive socks or underwear specially designed by PACT organic clothing company.

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Eli (top right) with DIRT Crew in 2012The following blog was written by Food Project intern Eli Shanks. Eli participated in The Food Project's Summer Youth Program in 2011, and went on to participate in the Academic Year Program and Internship Program.

My name is Eli Shanks. I'm 18, and I've worked at The Food Project since the summer of 2011.

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Briana before a build day.In August, The Food Project embarked on its second year as the Massachusetts host site for FoodCorps, a national nonprofit organization that works with schools to create a healthier school food environment. What follows is the fourth of a series of blogs profiling the FoodCorps members who are serving at The Food Project during the 2012-13 school year.

As a young child, stomach problems and other food sensitivities forced FoodCorps service member Briana Iacovetta to think frequently about what was in her food and how it affected her body. Over the years of reading ingredient labels and shopping at health food stores, she cultivated a strong interest in food and health. Now, Briana serves as a FoodCorps service member with The Food Project in Lynn, Mass.

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Lucas (center, green) and His 2012 Summer CrewThe following poem was written by Food Project youth intern Lucas Munson. Lucas first joined The Food Project in the summer of 2011 as a crew worker in our Summer Youth Program. He participated in the 2011-12 Academic Year Program, worked as an assistant crew leader during the summer of 2012, and is now an intern. We are proud to announce that The Food Project will be submitting Lucas' poem as a proposal for the CTK Foundation's Heart and Soul Grant. Thank you, Lucas, for your beautiful words.

I remember them telling us,
The city is too loud
And the country is too quiet,
Your words will never be heard.

We responded with a carrot in the dirt,
The rolled up sleeves of a sweaty shirt.
We seized pitchforks like we'd revolt,
And planted gardens as loud as hope.

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Do you like being outdoors, meeting new people, and working hard? Are you looking to make some money this summer? We are pleased to announce that the application for The Food Project's Summer Youth Program is now available!

The Food Project's Summer Youth Program brings together teenagers from diverse cultural, racial, economic, and geographic backgrounds to work on our urban and suburban farmland in Boston, Lincoln, and on the North Shore of eastern Massachusetts. Teens work on our farms, sell food at farmers' markets, work at hunger relief organizations, prepare and serve community lunches, and participate in workshops on topics such as diversity, sustainable agriculture, and personal finance.

All applicants must be 14 years old by January 1, 2013 and must not turn 18 before August 15, 2013. The application deadline is Friday, March 8, 2013. 

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Youth Harvesting Watermelons for the CSAOn a sunny June afternoon, you are strolling up and down bountiful rows of vegetables of all sizes, shapes, and colors. As you pick your share of berries and peas for the week, you taste a few along they way. The sugar snap peas are crisp and fresh; the strawberries are sweet and tangy, and their delicious juice runs down your chin as you sink your teeth into the bright fruit. At the end of the row is the rest of your haul for the week: lettuce, spinach, arugula, swiss chard, garlic scapes, bok choi, radishes, turnips, and scallions, all grown here at The Food Project's farm in Lincoln, Mass. You take one last strawberry and gather up your bags of riches to head over to the herb garden.

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