THE URBAN FARM

THE URBAN FARM (TUF) PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR URBAN YOUTH TO ENGAGE AND PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND FARMING BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION SUCH AS ACCESS TO LAND, LOCATION AND COST. TUF DELIVERS EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; ORGANIC GARDENING; ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION; LAND CONSERVATION AND EQUINE. THE GOAL OF TUF PROGRAMS IS TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL AND BEHAVIORAL LIFE SKILLS FOR YOUNG ADULTS. OUR ASPIRATION IS TO FOSTER COMPASSION AND RESILIENCE IN URBAN YOUTH AND INSPIRE THEM TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY, EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES. TUF SERVES DENVER METRO AREA RESIDENTS THROUGH YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING, SIGNATURE EVENTS, AND GENERAL ADMISSION, ALL STRENGTHENED BY OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WITH LIKE-MINDED NONPROFITS. FARM TO SCHOOL: PRE K-12 STUDENTS ENJOY FIELD TRIPS TO THE FARM. CURRICULUM IS ALIGNED WITH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IN NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, STUDENTS LEARN ABOUNT AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, FOOD SYSTEMS AND HORTICULTURE. AN ESTIMATED 20,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE FIELD TRIPS. TUF GROWS 13,000 LBS YEARLY OF HEALTHY PRODUCE THAT IS THEN DONATED BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY TO LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WHO MAY HAVE BARRIERS TO HEALTHY PRODUCE. ALL AROUND THE FARM - SUMMER CAMP: TUF SERVED AN ESTIMATED 800 CHILDREN THROUGH SUMMER CAMP, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 150 KIDS THROUGH THE SUMMER EQUINE CAMP. IN BOTH CAMPS, YOUTH LEARN HOW TO CARE FOR ANIMALS, CULTIVATE CROPS AND BECOME STEWARDS OF THE LAND. TUF REMOVES BARRIERS TO THE SPORT WHICH IS TYPICALLY LIMITED TO THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO LEASE OR BUY A HORSE. CULTIVATING CHANGE IN YOUTH: TUF AND DENVER JUVENILE SERVICES HOST A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM FOR AT RISK AND JUSTICE INVOLVED KIDS. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM, MORE THAN 320 YOUTH HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. TUF PROVIDES EARN-WHILE-YOU-LEARN OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH AS THEY LEARN ABOUT HORTICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND ANIMAL CARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. LIVESTOCK CLUBS AND CLASSES: TUF IS THE ONLY 4-H CLUB IN DENVER AND ONE OF ONLY A FEW ON THE FRONT RANGE. TUF HOLDS CLUBS AND CLASSES THAT ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO UTILIZE ANIMALS THAT LIVE AT THE FARM. YOUTH LEARN HOW TO RAISE, BREED AND SHOW LIVESTOCK. TUFS LIVESTOCK CLASSES SELL OUT EVERY YEAR.