David Holmes, Brandon Lewis and Dontaveous Robinson weigh squash they harvested during the continuation of the Urban Youth Farm Program that taught horticulture, nutrition and entrepreneurial skills to six 14- and 15-year-olds in Shreveport this summer. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell. Click on photo for downloadable image.)

Eddie Lockett, Sophia Stewart (with hat) and Dorothy Jordan examine produce as Dontaveous Robinson, Brandon Lewis and Aalexusia Smith look on. The ladies were customers at one of the sales days for the continuation of the Urban Youth Farm Program in Shreveport. (Photo by Grace Peterson. Click on photo for downloadable image.)

News Release Distributed 07/21/11

SHREVEPORT, La.--The LSU AgCenter and the City of Shreveport are collaborating in an educational farm program that has taught six teens how to be entrepreneurs.

Valencia Park Farm, located at one of Shreveport’s Public Assembly and Recreation centers, provides an agricultural teaching and demonstration site with the goal of increasing food production in Caddo Parish, said Grace Peterson, LSU AgCenter family nutrition program agent.

The farm is the site of the Urban Youth Farm Program that taught horticulture, nutrition and entrepreneurial skills to six 14- and 15-year-olds. The youth learned how to grow and prepare vegetables, and they developed a neighborhood farmers market.

Developing the market taught valuable job skills and addressed the issue of access to healthful food by offering the neighborhood residents affordable produce at a convenient location, Peterson said. “We also provided nutrition education and healthy recipes.”

On June 30, the six teenagers completed an eight-week program at the farm.

“These young people learned about horticulture, nutrition and marketing,” Peterson said. “They managed a quarter-acre farm and developed a neighborhood farmers market that was open to the neighborhood once a week.”

Three of them, all 15 years old – David Holmes, Brandon Lewis and Dontaveous Robinson – wanted to continue working at the farm through the summer and beyond, Peterson said.

“I didn’t want it to be shut down, and I want to inspire other people to come do it,” said Robinson.

Before the school year ended, staff from the LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station plowed the land so the youth could plant okra, cucumbers, collards, purple hull peas, squash, tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon and Swiss chard. Their herb garden has mint, rosemary and lemon basil. Lewis said it is for decoration and aroma.

The young team created a marketing plan, learned processing and packaging, and delivered fliers.

LSU AgCenter horticulturist Denyse Cummins designed the farm layout and planting schedule and provided horticulture education for the youth.

Guest speakers taught them about business and marketing. Ruby Small of the Mooretown Community Faith Garden, who is involved with the Dress for Success program, taught the importance of wearing the right kind of clothes for job interviews.

Jason Brady of Wine Country Bistro buys produce every Tuesday. “They’re the best collards I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Brady said.

“It’s good to know that we grew what’s in a restaurant,” Lewis said.

Brady donated fig, persimmon and pear trees and plans to provide bay laurel trees.

Various groups have come for tours, helping teens learn communication skills.

“I like to teach kids and tell them why they should have a garden,” Holmes said. “Once they see it, they’ll want to do it.”

Participants also have learned how to sell their produce and provide nutrition information. “We had a lot of squash, and when we put recipes out, it sold faster,” Holmes said. They sold cantaloupes both in halves and whole to accommodate different buyers.

“There were so many bell peppers, we made stuffed bell peppers,” he added.

Word of mouth has worked, too. “Collards sold slow at first, and after people tasted them, the word spread,” Lewis said.

“I am really amazed with the youth that come every other day,” said Shalon Lewis, manager of Valencia Park Community Center. “They live in the area, and the project gives them ownership to this community and the community center park.

“They feed the community,” she added. “I am so proud of the farm and the community for supporting the youth.”

The youth also have learned team building, Shalon Lewis said. “They know how to work together and know what each other’s strong points are.”

They know about irrigation, math and measurements, insects and arriving on time – “lifelong skills they’ll be using but they don’t know it yet,” Shalon Lewis said.

“This keeps me out of trouble and teaches me more for when I return to school,” Brandon Lewis said.

“It gives me something else to do besides basketball,” Holmes said.

The young entrepreneurs are looking forward to having lunch at Wine Country Bistro followed by a presentation at the Shreveport City Council meeting in August. “We’ll cook what they’ve produced and go to the city council meeting, show interaction and how good this program is,” Brady said.

Peterson said the youth will have a food demonstration and taste test for the community in August.

Profit from the farm will be used for more seeds and tools, Peterson said, adding that the youth will do a market survey to plan for the fall garden.

The farm also will be a training ground for adult urban farmers in the future, she added.

Mary Ann Van Osdell