Youth in Bloom is designed to provide teens, age 14-19, with work experience, mentorship, and industry skills toward their future career. This program supports, and is supported by, our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), linking our community together from customer to program participant. Youth work with the Black Thumb Farm team to manage our Whatley Share CSA and Farm Stand, while also learning life skills relevant to being in the workforce and working in community.

Youth In Bloom provides farm skills workshops weekly that include

• soil texture, compost, fertilizers, and amendments

• Integrated Pest Management, pest identification

• crop planning

And life skills workshops including but not limited to

• banking 101

• cooking on a budget

• sewing and mending

We are passionate about helping our youth succeed and with education, mentorship, and consistent support we know they can and will!