Leveraging LA semilla food center's community farm and community education programs, the project will increase the urban impact of our raíces youth program and youth farm apprenticeship program

This $349,058 federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service under the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (CFDA 10.935) program will support La Semilla Food Center's efforts to increase the urban impact of their Raices youth program and youth farm apprenticeship. The funding will enable La Semilla to train youth from underrepresented backgrounds in climate-adaptive desert agroecology, career skills, leadership, and micro-entrepreneurship. The project will leverage La Semilla's community farm and education programs as the anchor site, partnering with El Calvario and Planty for the People/One Grub to host additional programming and expand infrastructure and production. This 3-year award, effective September 30, 2023, aims to foster a healthy, self-reliant, fair, and sustainable food system in the Paso del Norte region.

We will train youth from underrepresented backgrounds in climate adaptive desert agroecology, career skills and leadership, and micro-entrepreneurial ventures. LA semilla community farm will serve as the anchor site for the raíces youth program and the food and farm apprenticeship program, leading programming and training for both. EL calvario and planty for the people/one grub will serve as partner sites, hosting one raíces series each per year. Partner sites will also accelerate and expand upon infrastructure and production.