NON-PROFIT HAPPENINGS - August 2003
Youth Garden Project “Makes
Everything Else Worth Doing”
By Carrie Switzer
In
the heat of Moab’s Dog Days, when many feel their energy wilting
on the vine, a handful of local youth are literally seeing the fruits
of their labors thrive. Their workplace, The Youth Garden Project,
is a cool, shady oasis next to Grand County High School; two acres
and a restored, historical home that serve as office, classroom
and mini-farm for the sole purpose of providing something fun and
useful for area kids to do. Over the course of the summer up to
96 kids have enjoyed working and playing here, and many more take
their efforts out to the community month in and month out.
Executive Director Cari Militano has watched the Youth Garden Project
grow from humble beginnings as an after school program for teens
in trouble to a multi-faceted program with a niche available to
anyone interested. The Youth Garden Project hosts a summer camp
of art, drama and outdoor adventure for 6- to 11-years-olds geared
toward working families (daily, 9-5); year-round after school classes
and projects offering high school credits for students; 10 part-time
Americorps jobs for students; a Farmer’s Market; and community
service in the form of helping Moab residents with limited abilities
and/or access with yard maintenance and gardening.
“The Youth Garden Project started out with a woman and a vision
and someone with land,” Cari says of the project’s first
year, 1996. “Kelly Green had land on 400 East and Sarah Hefron
had the vision. They put their heads together to make it happen.”
Cari has been with the Project for four years, starting as a teacher
and taking over as Executive Director when Sarah Hefron left that
position. The Project began with very few kids, all of them referred
by the court system. It culminated the first year with a Fall Harvest
Celebration that continues annually. The whole community is invited
to a feast of home grown entrees prepared by the youth and their
advisors.
Another annual event occurs on the opposite end of the calendar
year, the mouth-watering Chocolate Lover’s Fling. This February
event (a perfect Valentine date) has made local bakers and candy
makers famous among their neighbors, and is the project’s
major fundraiser. Attendance is free to those who prepare a dessert,
and their wares are put up for sale and judging. There are professional
and non-professional categories. Scrumptious fun!
This
year Colin Fryer and the Red Cliff’s Lodge will contribute
to the Youth Garden Project’s fundraising efforts by including
it as one of three beneficiaries of a Labor Day Weekend golf tournament,
river float and carnival (see sidebar). Cari said the event, which
will also benefit Seekhaven and SPLORE, two other local non-profit
organizations, will likely be an annual one.
As one of 7 Americorps programs in Utah, The Youth Garden Project
employs 20 people. Four of them are full-time Vista workers, taking
care of behind the scenes details such as recruiting volunteers
and organizing the Farmer’s Market. There are two head gardeners
who teach classes and run the after school programs, Part-time employees
who work with the National Park System and 10 reduced part-time
jobs for high school students or adults working toward a stated
educational goal.
The Farmer’s Market effort is two-fold, Cari says. This year
there are 10 vendors, the core of what Cari and the Youth Garden
Project board of directors hopes to become a collective of growers
for economic development. The other aspect, of course, is to market
the Project’s own prolific harvest.
Early
on the Youth garden Project erected its first permanent structure
in the community when the high school students involved at that
time wanted to stake out a place for themselves closer to the high
school. The result was the construction of a pond in the shape of
a dinosaur right behind the high school; a cool and shady place.
Now, Youth Garden Project facilities are within eye view of the
high school, at what was long known as The Holyoak House. Grand
County School district board members labored for over a year about
what to do with the home, which had historical value but needed
a lot of work. The Youth Garden Project approached the District
with a proposal to locate there and educate students, put them to
work while seeking out funds for restoration. The district agreed,
and ultimately the Grand County Historical Preservation Society
restored the house as a donation to the group.
“”We really appreciated the support of the Moab community,”
Cari said. “I say this on behalf of the whole Youth Garden
Project, because it is the community’s support that allows
us to provide what we do for the youth.”
And how does Cari describe the services provided?
“The Youth Garden
Project does a lot of things, but the number one thing is it assists
youth in positive ways. It helps them find a place for themselves,
provides a work ethic and makes everything else worth doing.
“They work in the garden and leave with a sense of self.”
The Youth Garden
Project is a Utah non-profit organization, located at 530 S. 400
East in Moab; phone: 435-259 BEAN (2326); fax: 435-259-2329. www.youthgardenproject.org