KITCHEN GARDEN PROJECT INC GARDEN-RAISED BOUNTY

YOUTH PROGRAMSGRUB PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY YOUTH (YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING BARRIERS TO SUCCESS) A SAFE AND ENGAGING LEARNING AND WORK ENVIRONMENT ROOTED IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. OUR GROUNDED PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH WHO ARE SEEKING THEIR GED, AND COMBINES JOB TRAINING, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND TEAM BUILDING. IN THIS CONTEXT, YOUTH EXPERIENCE A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY GROW THEIR OWN SKILLS AND RESILIENCE. GRADUATES FROM GROUNDED CAN APPLY TO CONTINUE AS FARM ASSISTANTS OR FARM COORDINATORS, FOR ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2023-2024, WE ENGAGED A TOTAL OF 45 YOUTH ACROSS OUR SUMMER, FALL, AND SPRING COHORTS WITH 6300 HOURS OF PARTICIPANT PROGRAMMING. YOUTH GREW OVER 7,575 LBS OF FOOD FOR THEMSELVES, THE COMMUNITY, AND LOCAL HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS AND HAD MORE AGENCY IN HOW THE FOOD WAS GROWN AND DISTRIBUTED. YOUTH EXPERIENCED IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-CONFIDENCE, OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE, INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, AMONG OTHER POSITIVE OUTCOMES.FROM THE VOICE OF A YOUTH PROGRAM PARTICIPANT:"I'M MOST PROUD OF THE WAY I SHOWED UP TO PEOPLE, BOTH BEING VULNERABLE TO THE FARM TEAM AND SHOWING KINDNESS TO GROUNDED. I WAS ABLE TO SHOW UP AS MYSELF BOTH EMOTIONALLY ANDPROFESSIONALLY." 2023 YOUTH PARTICIPANT

WILD FOODS & MEDICINES PROGRAMSOUR WILD FOODS AND MEDICINES PROGRAM OFFERS EDUCATION, COMMUNITY CLASSES, TEACHER TRAINING, AND TRIBAL INTERNSHIPS TO HELP PEOPLE CONNECT WITH THE LAND. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRUB AND LOCAL TRIBES, TEND, GATHER, AND GROW (TGG) IS A K-12 STEAM PROGRAM THAT EDUCATES STUDENTS ABOUT WILD PLANTS, LOCAL LANDSCAPES, AND THE RICH CULTURAL TRADITIONS SURROUNDING THEM. DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHWEST INDIAN TREATMENT CENTER, PLANT TEACHINGS FOR BUILDING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS INCLUDES A BOOK, PLANT CARDS, AN ACTIVITY GUIDE, AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES. THE TOOLKIT HELPS TO TEACH HOW PLANTS CAN LEAD US IN BEING HEALTHY AND RESILIENT.WE OFFERED 25 TEACHER TRAININGS BASED ON OUR PLANT TEACHINGS FOR OVER 435 PEOPLE, TRAINED 17 PEOPLE ON SALTWATER BEACH WORKSHOP, OFFERED 7 FULL DAY TRAININGS FOR 115 TEACHERS, DELIVERED 65 SETS OF THE TEND CURRICULUM TO INTERESTED GROUPS, OFFERED 17 OFF-SITE TRAININGS, AND MORE! OUR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS REPORTED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY OF PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND PLACES. IN 2023-2024, WE CONTINUED WORK ON OUR NATURE TRAIL WHERE WE PRACTICED CONSERVATION, CREATED VERNAL POOLS AND PONDS, ADDED SIGNAGE, AND MORE! WE ALSO LAUNCHED A BRAND NEW INTERACTIVE WEBSITE CALLED THE CEDAR BOX EXPERIENCE THAT ALLOWS USERS TO EXPLORE INDIGENOUS FOODS, LAND STEWARDSHIP, AND SEASONAL COAST SALISH TEACHINGS.FROM THE VOICE OF A WILD FOODS AND MEDICINES PARTICIPANT:"I HAVE LIVED IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST MY ENTIRE LIFE WITHOUT KNOWING THE NAMES, PROPERTIES, AND MOST CERTAINLY MEDICINES OF OUR TREE FRIENDS. I AM A REGISTERED NURSE AND REALIZE HOW LIMITED MY EDUCATION IS IN HAVING BEEN TAUGHT FROM ONLY ONE WAY OF KNOWING. I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS SPACE AND OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN. AS I THINK ABOUT ALDER, COTTONWOOD, WILLOW, I AM THINKING OF THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP CHILDREN KNOW HISTORY RELATED TO THIS LAND, PLACE, AND PEOPLE" 2023 WILD FOODS AND MEDICINES PARTICIPANT