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Profile Edited by ProfileMods MySpace Editor 2.0 2007 EarthShare Farms Program 2007 brings the inaugural year for the EarthShare Farms program at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. EarthShare Farms is a hands-on intensive gardening course for youth, ages 12 –14. Student farmers will learn gardening by designing, planting, caring for, and harvesting organic herb, vegetable, and flower gardens of their own creation.
We think that the only way to really learn how to garden is to get down on the ground, get some dirt under the finger nails and garden! However, we also realize that to be well-rounded and to foster the same in our students, we must cultivate the mind as well. To this end, the EarthShare student farmers will manage their garden as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) system. The gardeners will learn both the in-depth horticultural skills and the business principles that make up the foundation of CSA. Community supported agriculture is a model agricultural system in which members of a community share the risks (the possibility of no food) and benefits (FOOD!) of a farm. This is done through the purchase of shares in that farm. As the season progresses, food is divided among those who have purchased shares. In our case, tuition for the class will be considered the share. Not only will student farmers have the opportunity to develop sought-after urban agricultural skills, but they’ll often be bringing home food for dinner!
Some of the topics include: design, soils, seed-saving, heirloom plants, companion planting, and garden insects - and each session ends with a big cooking party!
Dates: Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., April 24th through October 2nd. The year is divided into four sessions, but each student must select AT LEAST two or more contiguous sessions. This ensures that the students will be able to see plants from seed to harvest.
The sessions are as follows:
Spring: April 24th – May 29th
Summer 1: June 5th - July 10th
Summer 2: July 17th – August 21st
Harvest: August 28th – October 2nd
Cost: The cost is $30 per student per 6 week session. A student may sign up for any two contiguous sessions ($60), three contiguous sessions ($90), or all four sessions. Student farmers who sign up for all four sessions will receive a 15% discount ($102.00 for 24 weeks). This covers the farmer’s share of materials and food!
Location: All classes will be held at the Project Grow Gardens at Matthaei Botanical Gardens on Dixboro Road in Ann Arbor.
To Register: Send an email to [email protected] for an application
