By Joshua Bynum
In June and July, Austin Grown, a continuing collaboration between One Earth Collective and BUILD Chicago spent six weeks planting fruits & veggies and caring for them! They also learned about the environment and all of its intersections—most especially racial and social justice—through speakers, chefs and field trips. We discussed the health of our Earth and our bodies and our communities. We cooked and ate healthy plant-based food. We also created a recipe book, which is a collection of recipes our visiting chefs cooked with us; we can continue cooking these delicious meals and teach them to others. In our last E-News we had four Austin Grown youth’s interviewed and asked them about the hopes they have for this program. Now that the program has come to a close we gathered those four same youths to ask them what experiences they received during the program.
Q1: Now that Austin Grown ends this week, what do you think is the most valuable skill you have learned this summer?
Durell: We did a lot this summer but what stuck with me was how to harvest, plant/replant if you accidentally pull it out too early, and learned how to clean garlic.
Jaden: This summer I learned how to harvest but also how to clean the plants and keep them fresh.
Cheyenne: This summer I actually learned a lot about the Food Justice System. I also learned how to grow and harvest my own food to keep it healthy.
Janiyah: I learned about garden maintenance, garden beds, and harvesting.
On this day Austin Grown was visited by Johari Cole
On this day Austin Grown was taught mindful yoga by DuShaun Branch
Kenyana Walker
Austin Grown's field trip to Thatcher Woods
Q2: Mrs.K (Kenyana Walker) was your chaperone and teacher for the program this summer. Is there anything you would like to say to her before you all leave the program?
Durell: Bye! Just kidding, but if I had to say anything to Mrs.K is that I did have a lot of fun this Summer.
Jaden: Thank you for showing us how important it is to keep plants and foods fresh for people.
Cheyenne: I appreciate you teaching me things I would not have learned on my own.
Janiyah: Thank you for the experience in the garden this summer!
Q3: You all worked very hard this summer. What do you all plan to spend the fruits of your labor (money) on?
Durell: I plan on treating myself!
Jaden: I want to get some new clothes.
Cheyenne: I want to spend it for Back to School.
Janiyah: Same for me. Most likely I am going to spend that on Back to School.
Thank you again to our youth cohort members for taking the time to speak with us. It is sad to see the program end for the year but the skills and experiences these teens gained here will follow them for a long time. All the teens have requested again that we promote their social media pages.
So thank you again to,
Cheyenne: @ms._chychy._ on Instagram
Janiyah: @Johnsonniya_.babez on Instagram
Durell: @Nolimint_rell on Instagram
Jaden: @punchmade__jj on Instagram
(Posted 08/22/2024)
