Cultiva Youth Initiative
Cultiva Youth Project
The Cultiva Youth Project is a leadership initiative for teens aged 14-18, where they manage an urban organic farm, cultivating produce for the local area while building essential leadership and job-related skills. In Boulder, participants plant, nurture, and harvest crops for Growing Gardens’ CSA program, which offers a weekly vegetable share to community members. In Longmont, the produce is distributed to the local community in three ways: donated through local partners, provided for free to those in farm programs, or sold at reduced prices at the on-site farm stand.
Sustainable Farming
Leadership
Community Service
Job + Healthy Living Skills
My time at Cultiva over the past four years has been truly invaluable. The experiences I’ve had here have contributed immensely to my personal growth. When I first joined Cultiva at 14, I was quite shy, knew very little about healthy eating, and avoided situations where I wasn’t surrounded by my close friends. However, as the years went by, I learned how to step out of my comfort zone, take initiative, and take control of both the people I interacted with and my own life.
Over the summer, our youth strengthen their ties to the community by participating in volunteer projects and gleaning produce, which is then donated to those in need. Through this immersive farm experience, they learn the value of caring for the environment while acquiring skills in growing their own food, working in a professional setting, running a small business, and making a positive impact on the community, the planet, and themselves.
During chore shifts at the dairy, Cultiva participants gain hands-on experience with the goats, learning essential skills in humane animal care and effective livestock management on the farm.
Additionally, participants are given the opportunity to make decisions about various aspects of the program. They are encouraged to take part in project management, public relations, community outreach, garden work, and service initiatives.
- Develop leadership, interpersonal, and communication abilities through teamwork and peer-led activities.
- Gain valuable job skills through hands-on work experience.
- Strengthen bonds within the Cultiva team and the broader community through service-learning and community involvement.
- Promote healthy living by learning about nutrition, cooking, and maintaining physical fitness.
- Participate in organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices as part of urban farm operations.
- Build a deep connection to the land and an awareness of sustainable resource management.
- Desarrollar habilidades de liderazgo y comunicación mediante el trabajo en equipo y actividades de liderazgo entre compañeros.
- Ayudar a los jóvenes a adquirir habilidades laborales a través de la experiencia práctica en el trabajo.
- Fomentar la conexión entre el grupo de Cultiva y la comunidad de Longmont mediante proyectos de servicio comunitario.
- Enseñar sobre agricultura orgánica y sostenible a través de la gestión de una granja urbana.
- Cultivar una relación con la tierra y una comprensión del manejo sostenible de los recursos naturales.
- Ofrecer a los jóvenes valiosos conocimientos de vida, habilidades interpersonales y oportunidades empresariales.
What I’ve recently come to realize about Cultiva is how the program truly teaches us to think critically, take action, and become leaders within our community. Rather than attending workshops or lectures, we’re challenged to identify issues that need change and figure out how to address them. We make the calls, share our program with others, and take charge of the projects. Our mentors act as managers, providing invaluable support when we hit roadblocks, face setbacks, or struggle with tasks like making a call. The most remarkable part is that we’re learning through direct, hands-on experience how to create real change.