The Garden of Maturity Delights

Fresh times: Graduates from the Youth
Farmstand Project display some of the goods the next crop of young
farmers will bring to the table week-to-week throughout the city. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

All of the participants in the program have been placed by CNY Works,
a county program that aims to provide youth with basic job experiences.
They are given the task of tending their own space in a community
garden, the produce of which they will bring to the stands. A variety
of fruits and vegetables, fresher and cheaper than what you’ll get at
the nearest grocery store, will be for sale.

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Before bringing what they’ve grown to the table, a full
inventory is taken. After each day of sale, the youth from each group
log the accounting books. Aside from learning about the gardening
process, nutrition and mathematics, having them undertake this
start-to-finish task also allows the youngsters to get on-the-job
training while offering leadership opportunities as well as life skills
development activities.

The Youth Farmstand Project will run through Friday, Aug. 15. Every Tuesday, they will be at the Downtown Farmers’ Market, South Salina and West Washington streets, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., and Elmwood Presbyterian Church, 1640 South Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.; Wednesdays at Toomey Abbott Towers, 1207 Almond St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Grace Episcopal Church, 819 Madison St., from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays at Almus Oliver Towers, 300 Burt St., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Syracuse Community Health Center, 819 S. Salina St., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Fridays at Toomey Abbott Towers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.