Enriching Youth After School

By Priscilla MartinezEvery Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, youth ages 6 to 16 gather at Common Good City Farm to participate in the LEAF (Learning for Environment, Agriculture and Food) after-school program. The program engages neighborhood children in activities on the farm, including cooking, gardening and educational games. The participants harvest veggies, help prepare an afternoon snack, and sit down to enjoy a meal together on the farm. They learn about where their food comes from, and how to prepare and cook meals using vegetables from the farm. Last Thursday, students learned to cook zucchini pasta using tomato sauce with fresh tomato chunks and herbs from the farm. Conscious of how tasty even healthy foods can be, they ended their session excited about the fact that they had helped make such a good meal. As Amani, age 4, said while eating “Hey! Here are the tomatoes I helped cut!”” Priscilla is an intern here at Common Good City Farm. The LEAF program will resume once the farm opens in the spring. Make sure to stay connected with us throughout the winter for updates on this and other CGCF programs.