History – The Powderhorn Neighborhood Program began in 2000 with its original farmsite located at Elliot Ave. and E. 35th St. While the original farmsite is no longer in use, the Powderhorn YFMP has a variety of community partners in the Powderhorn and Central Neighborhoods to carry out its work including Powderhorn Parks and Recreation, the BaHai Church, and 2 private land owners. The Powderhorn YFMP has been a long time participant in the Midtown Farmers Market and has recently been conducting “Mobile Markets” during the summer as a way to distribute its produce. In addition to farm based programming, Powderhorn YFMP can often be seen in the Powderhorn Park Building teaching cooking classes, puppet making classes with In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, or hosting free Community Dinners.
Farm locations
View Youth Farm and Market Project Farmsites in a larger map
Current Programming - Fall Program at the Powderhorn Youth Farm is in full swing! Two days a week (M and W, 5:00-7:00 pm) Youth Farmers are meeting at the Powderhorn Park Recreation Center for our core Fall cooking & gardening class, which is titled “A little Here, A Little There.” One day a week Youth Farmers will make a dish with ingredients native to Minnesota or the Upper-Midwest and the other day they will make global dishes from a variety of countries and cultures around the world. They will also make trips to our neighborhood farms each week to help put them to sleep for the Winter and harvest any remaining Fall veggies, which will go straight into our meal that day! Other highlights for the Fall Class will include cooking one evening on the Sisters Camelot bus distributing free meals to the community, helping cook, serve, and host for the always-epic Powderhorn Empty Bowls event on November 4th, and hosting a community dinner for Youth Farm family and friends on November 30th to celebrate the end of our Fall class. All the while our Project LEAD will be hard at work evaluating the summer program, hiring new teen staff, conducting our community food survey, and planning the farms for next year. Powderhorn will also be hosting the occasional volunteer work group on weekends to help put out farms to sleep for the Winter. Lastly, neighborhood organizing projects include completing the construction of a fleet of composting bins at Oakland Farm, which is serving as a pilot site for the Compostadores, and helping to host the first annual meeting of the Southside Local Food Resource Hub.
Neighborhood Food Distribution - Midtown Farmers Market – The youth in the Powderhorn neighborhood continue to sell at this unique bustling farmers market located at the YWCA in South Minneapolis. Through our community food assessments, it was determined by the Powderhorn Project LEAD that selling produce at this market is the most effective way to distribute and sell the most produce to residents from Powderhorn and the surrounding neighborhoods. From early July through the beginning of October, YFMP youth sell a variety market vegetables including: rhubarb, lettuce, carrots, onions, collard greens, chard, tomatoes, cilantro, and tomatillos. Additionally, Powderhorn Youth Farmers also run a Mobile Market throughout the summer as a part of its All Things Food Group, where 8-12 youth travel around the neighborhood with carts of fresh produce and sell to a variety of neighbors.
For more information about the Powderhorn Neighborhood YFMP or if you are a youth that lives or goes to school in the Powderhorn/Central Neighborhoods and are interested in learning more about programming during the school year or summer, contact Powderhorn Program Director Colin Cureton on our staff contact page.
LATEST NEWS FROM THE POWDERHORN NEIGHBORHOOD
Welcome to our new Powderhorn Program Director Hashep Seka
Gunnar Liden : February 15, 2012 2:54 PM : Powderhorn
We are extremely excited to announce Hashep Seka as YFMP’s new Powderhorn Program Director. Hashep is a true YFMP veteran, starting her participation at YFMP in 2002 at the age of 10. Since then she has participated in every level of YFMP programming (Youth Farmer, Project LEAD, Adult summer staff). Through her 11 year involvement with YFMP she became interested in the local food movements in Minneapolis and is excited to continue that work as the Powderhorn Program Director.
Before being hired as Powderhorn Program Director, Hashep was the Community Engagement Specialist at the Cultural Wellness Center through the Twin Cities AmeriCorps LISC program. She is a Powderhorn community resident and works with many community partners including the Backyard Initiative, a partnership of the Cultural Wellness Center and Allina, to find ways to increase food access for her south Minneapolis community. A Minneapolis native, Hashep is a graduate of Loring Nicollet Alternative High School and currently pursuing a degree in Community Development at MCTC.
Hashep is very excited to start working at YFMP as she has a long history with many of the youth and a strong emphasis on family involvement. If you are a Powderhorn parent, youth or community partner, we are sure you will hear from Hashep soon, but feel free to contact her at hashep@youthfarm.net or 612.990.0074.
After two years as the Powderhorn Program Director, Colin Cureton is leaving YFMP. We are sad to see Colin go, but we are excited to for all the great things coming in his future. In addition to his work running the Powderhorn Program, Colin took a lead role in our Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives grant, effective food growing, and engaging YFMP in the broader food justice movement around the country. Thank you Colin for all you have done for YFMP and the youth in Powderhorn.
With that, YFMP is currently hiring for the full time Program Director position in the Powderhorn Neighborhood. Please see our Employment/Volunteering page for the job posting and how to apply. If you know of any great youth workers, especially with past experience in the Powderhorn Neighborhood, please pass along this job announcement. Please note that this position closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 20th.
Support YFMP with a year end contribution
Gunnar Liden : December 20, 2011 11:54 AM : Events, Frogtown, Hawthorne, Lyndale, Powderhorn, West Side, Youth LeadershipSupport your Community by Supporting Youth Farm 
At Youth Farm and Market Project (YFMP), we respect our roots and our history.Without ongoing support, we would not be where we are today. We would love to have your support.
Click Here to support Transformative Youth Work
Your contribution today can support YFMP Youth-Led Food Movement that is impacting the communities you live in.
Over the past year, we have seen the following significant growth:
- SECURED MULTIYEAR NATIONAL FUNDING
- INCREASED NEIGHBORHOOD REACH: Two new neighborhood programs
- INCREASED LOCAL EMPLOYEMENT: 60% increase in full-time staff positions
- EXPANDED PROGRAMING: Introduction of our Farm Stewards Program
YFMP is only as strong as our community and that community includes supporters like you. Your strong contribution will allow YFMP to continue to be a leader in the Youth-Led Food Movement in the Twin Cities. In order to continue with our aggressive expansion and reinvestment into the local community, we have set a goal of $25,000 for our winter fundraising efforts.
Giving to YFMP could not be easier. In addition to the traditional mail in check or credit card gift, online giving through GiveMN.org is the most secure and easy way to make a one time or recurring donation (a $10/month donation goes much further than a one time $50 donation).
The coming year promises to be an exciting one of new growth, new neighborhoods, and many new youth. Contributions from community members like you, assure our continued success and growth. Contribute today and help us continue to have a positive impact on the youth and communities that we serve.
Sincerely,
Gunnar Liden
Executive Director
Powderhorn Youth Farm celebrates Food Day!
Gunnar Liden : October 26, 2011 10:15 AM : Events, Powderhorn|
While everyday at Youth Farm is a “food day,” Monday also happened to be Food Day everywhere! Food Day, sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, ”Seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life…to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way.” The Powderhorn Youth Farm spent their evening class on Monday celebrating Food Day, all without leaving their neighborhood. First we visited Oakland Farm neighbors Derek and Aaron to check out the clay oven that they have graciously offered us to use this week to make wood-fired pizzas made with local ingredients.
From there we walked to Oakland Farm where we had snacks, played games, and made our Food Day poster.
Lastly we walked across the street to Park Ave United Methodist Church, which was hosting a major Food Day event sponsored by the City of Minneapolis. Youth Farmers broke off into groups to talk to Food Day attendees- including neighbors, city officials, and more- about what role healthy food plays in our lives. Food Day was a wonderful chance to connect with our neighbors to talk about and celebrate healthy food. A big thanks to all the Youth Farmers and community members who turned out to make Food Day in our community a success! |
Many of you know how great the Youth Farmers are at growing vegetables, but did you know that Youth Farm can rock the Brazilian Drums? Well, thats what you missed if you weren’t at the Powderhorn Harvest Festival Thursday night. Here’s a video of the Youth Farm Brazilian Drumming Focus Group performing at the Harvest Festival.
In addition to the great drumming, the Powderhorn Youth Farm made amazing food for over 300 people and performed a Heart of the Beast Puppet show, YFMP style. Thanks to all those who came. Friday night is our last Harvest Fest on the West Side of St. Paul.
