Nurturing Roots Farm

After hosting the grant-funded Back to School Fair in 2021 at Nurturing Roots Farm, I was offered a residency to be the Youth Outreach Assistant! This opportunity has helped me make community connections in the South Seattle Area, develop outdoor and arts-integrated curriculum, host community events for Black and Brown families, gain agricultural skills, facilitate meditation and healing circles, and promote mental health through land stewardship.

Here is a snapshot of my experiences and programs I support at Nurturing Roots Farm.

Nurturing Sprouts

Nurturing Sprouts is a youth and family program at the farm focusing preschool - school age youth. My responsibilities as the Youth Outreach Assistant include facilitating monthly outdoor education and arts-based activities on-site, develop and maintain community partnerships, develop curriculum, and facilitate farm tours and support volunteers.

Residency Highlights

Facilitating upcycle art projects outdoors with community
Creating both in-person and virtual art spaces for youth and families of all ages
Developing a partnership between the farm and Kids Carpentry. Kids Carpentry sponsored the birdhouse building event we had at the farm, and built the wooden play structure/photo booth that kids love to use when they visit!
Developing a partnership with Rising Star Elementary and offering workshops in the school’s garden with the preschool - 3rd grade classrooms
Hosting community family events like Earth Day Party and Juneteenth Jam

Nurturing Sprouts participants with their nature mobiles.

Tender Love and Care school program visits Nurturing Roots and plays in the Kids Carpentry made wooden prop.

Earth Day Party 2022

Curious Rising Star Elementary students playing with a worm in the school’s garden bed

Nurturing Sprouts at the Acorn Art Workshop

Know your Roots

Know your Roots is a paid teen internship program for youth ages 11 - 18 operating June - August. My responsibilities as the Youth Outreach Assistant include developing curriculum and facilitating workshops surrounding various topics like agriculture and social justice. Participants display their capstone projects at the end of the program.

Residency Highlights

Facilitating with a predominately Black and Brown cohort
Learning agricultural skills along with the teens
Developing partnerships with the farm and other farms like Ranier Beach Urban Wetlands and another Black-Owned farm Yes Farm
Getting behind the scenes access with the giraffes and learning about Zoo Doo compost at Woodland Park Zoo
Providing access to other educational opportunities and supporting teen-led projects

Know Your Roots Teens reading to Tiny Trees Preschool students Jefferson Park

Know Your Roots Teens visit Tilth Alliance Ranier Beach Urban Wetlands and take home free produce from their farmstand.

Know Your Roots Teens visits Woodland Park Zoo

Know Your Roots teen helping paint the Art 4 Life Mural at Yes Farm

Know Your Roots teens and I learning about, foraging, and tasting lamb’s ear at the Beacon Food Forest.

Know your Roots 2022 Cohort

Capstone Projects

Here are some of the completed capstone projects and reflections from the 2022 Know Your Roots Cohort.

Know Your Roots Teens create Encyclopedia of plants on our farm. Click Here to View.

NR Documentary created by Know Your Roots Teens

Nurturing Roots x Converge Media

Below is a video with Converge Media to highlight the healing work and importance of Nurturing Roots Farm. My portion of the interview starts at 2 minutes & 10 seconds.