Our first Horticultural/Entrepreneurial team graduates!

Yesterday, youth from three South LA High Schools completed RootDown LA's 13-week training course that prepared them to design, install and maintain a network of neighborhood gardens at our WECAN Urban Farm site.  Developed by our Programs Manager, Karen Ramirez, and our Advisory Board Member, architect and permaculturist, Corinna Gebert, the training covered topics including: the changed food system, the importance of soil and compost, site analysis, seasonal and companion planting, non-toxic fertilization and pest management, harvesting, distribution, marketing, and value-added garden products.

The youth not only successfully completed the program, they signed on to continue working with RootDown to design and install 8 more gardens in the neighborhood over the summer.  Yesterday they presented their project plan for funding.  They will be funded to also develop the system through which future trainees will expand and replicate the "supply-side" activities of our Youth-driven Neighborhood Food Systems.

The kids are cooking at home.

 

As part of our RootDown LA Youth Leader training (it prepares kids to teach others, lessons about food justice and nutrition, and techniques to make veggies taste better) the students are asked to cook at least two meals at home that include at least three veggies.  These are pics from their home veggie cooking adventures.

Rising Stars at RootDownLA

It’s a beautiful day when I wake up to an e-mail from the amazing board member, Corinna Gebert, who’s also running The Urban Food and Farming Training with Karen Ramirez - Sundays at our community partners, WeCan.  South LA students and our staff spend four hours of their weekend cultivating skills and friendships that will last a lifetime.  

Of course good food was involved!   Here’s a quote from the e-mail –

 “Yesterdays garden day with the volunteers was a success, we made some great progress in Bridgette’s garden, made signs and markers for our residential food garden Program, transplanted plugs and six-packs in the WECAN nursery, showed the visitors from Sonoma State all that RootDownLA is up to, had a fantastic lunch cooked by Andres and Kadeyjah and a great time overall!”

 A little earlier in the week, Andres Chopin planned and executed a BRILLIANT meal for the CD 9 Coalition meeting at Nuevo South tonight. 25 Non-profit Executive Directors were completely impressed with the chicken, meatballs, veggie platter, fruit, cucumbers, hummus and guacamole.

 The feast had no end.

THANK YOU!  Andres and Johnny, for pulling this off!

Our kids are making us so very proud!

Posted by Mrs. Cook