For 20 years, we ran SOL (Seeds of Leadership) Garden an amazing, life-changing experience for over 400 local youth. During this period, we mentored many interns who continue to work in the fields of youth programming and food justice. While we moved on to create new programs to meet current needs, we are happy to continue to share the curricula and resources we developed with you.
Inspire your own program and teaching! We are happy to share our curriculum, ‘Food for the SOL: Youth, Food, Justice and Community Building”
I got a lot more confident in my ability to say and do things…to get a job done, roll up my sleeves and do it…SOL Garden is unbelievable and tremendously important. It pretty much carved out the life I have right now…There were people at SOL Garden who actually cared about what I had to say. Shawn
Enjoy a youth made video that shows a day in the life of our SOL Garden program!
SOL Garden participants, most low-income and underemployed, gained valuable life, college and career skills as they have: Cultivated a quarter acre garden and donated thousands of pounds of vegetables to families and senior citizens in our low-income community; Constructed their own 40′ solar greenhouse and designed and built the “SOL Shack” meeting space; Helped planted and tend gardens throughout the community at a shelter for homeless families, elementary schools, a hospital and health center, a library and for local families; Created and sold hundreds of ceramic SOL Bowls ; Given over 30 presentations at conferences and events; participated in Earth and Spirit youth retreats and outdoor adventure, workshops in nutrition, cooking, and healing arts, celebration art, and helped thousands learn, celebrate, and play at the North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival.
Enjoy the SOL Garden Blues we wrote with musician Katie Sachs, then performed at the North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival.
You come here and it’s like whatever is stressing you out vanishes because you know you have all these people here to support you and grow food with. There’s not drama, there’s no stress it’s just like the most relaxed atmosphere…the best place to be. Vanessa
Because of SOL Garden, I now think about my health, and what I eat. I think about how I live my life and the effects and impressions I make on others. I think about the world and how I have a choice to be an active citizen. I think about what small things I can do to make a difference and I think about big ideas that could change the world.Kacie
Coming here is the best decision I ever made. Jen
SOL Garden was provided free of charge to local youth, and made possible through grants from the MA Cultural Council Youth Reach Program, The AT and T Aspire Program, The Green Leaf Foundation, and individual contributions.
