Greenhouse Management
Growing Possibilities
Vegetable starts can be a significant expense for small scale farmers. We will be developing a commercial greenhouse and teaching PPP participants greenhouse systems management. In addition, the revenue from our plant starts will support a sustainable funding model for this program over the long-term.
This programming is still getting off the ground. We have partnered with Growing-Gardens PDX to host inhouse greenhouse management workshops as a form of train the trainer model as we grow into this. Big shout out to our partners!
We are proud to partner with Growing Gardens, a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to cultivating healthy and equitable communities through gardening. This collaboration focuses on enhancing greenhouse management skills within the community through the development of a commercial greenhouse and in-house workshops. Utilizing a "train the trainer" model, participants gain expertise in greenhouse systems management and share their knowledge, fostering sustainable agricultural practices. A key project in this partnership includes the construction of a greenhouse at the CROPS farm in Troutdale, Oregon, where community members actively participate in its development. Together, we are empowering the BIPOC community and strengthening local food systems, building a foundation for sustainable growth and food sovereignty.
Propagating Produce for the People (PPP)
Empowering Communities Through Propagation
The Propagating Produce for the People apprenticeship program is an agricultural training program for Black youth who are interested in careers in agriculture, particularly those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system.
This program, which was created in partnership with the Donald E Long Juvenile Justice Center, includes hands-on instruction, mentorship, and technical assistance in starting a business. The intent of this program is to teach participants to grow their own food, gain jobs skills, and become the leaders we need for a just green economy.
Arts & Activism
Bridging Creativity and Advocacy
This program is about more than job creation. We use the reconnection to the land as a gateway to healing and laying down roots of resistance. Our curriculum will support helping justice-impacted youth find their voice and leverage their experiences to advocated for their community. The program includes culturally specific projects that use art as a tool for activism.
Hydroponics & Anaerobic Digesting
Future Farming
This will support climate-resilient vegetable production for small-scale urban farmers. Our center will teach system design, plants and pests management, and water quality testing and analysis. Waste from the site will be processed in an anaerobic digester to generate energy and reinvigorate soils.
