Our Youth decorated and packaged Kindness Bags for those in need in Ft. Myers that were sent down after the Hurricane |
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Happy Halloween!
The month is quickly coming to an end and the rest of the holiday season is coming in at full force. We've been staying busy with all things Halloween as we gear up for our BIG 1st Annual Farm-O-Ween event that's happening this Saturday night. With so much to look forward to we certainly don't want to forget all of the good to look back on.
Our Youth made a list of what some basic needs that people affected by Hurricane Ian could use, so we’ve been collecting food and goods to send down to the Harlem Heights and Dunbar neighborhoods in Ft. Myers. We’ve received donations from the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Pete as well as Accenture. We are making a trip down to get everything to the people who need it most. We're grateful for the help from organizations and companies who care!
Read more about the many efforts to help with the recovery of Ft. Myers in the featured article below.
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Speaking of companies who care, Suncoast Credit Union (South St. Pete, Tampa, and Clearwater branches) had their Day of Service at the Farm bringing out 20+ employees and their families! It was an awesome day of bed prep, composting, worm feeding, and sifting. A lot of great work was done, and the kids who came had a great time as well. Many were interested in starting their own gardens so lots of mini-gardens found new homes where they’ll be cultivated. Thank you so much Suncoast for choosing to spend your Saturday with us! |
The 8th Annual SHINE Mural Festival happened this month and featured artist Chad Mize invited our Youth Ambassadors to take part in the “We Are St. Pete” Trail Community Project. They helped repaint the concrete barricades on the Pinellas Trail by 20th Street South. This is our third year participating in the event and our youth always enjoy being able to go out and paint, being a part of the vibrant art that can be seen around our city. Be sure to check it out if you’re ever biking, walking or traveling down the trail! |
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Our Youth Ambassadors have been working hard getting ready for tomorrow's event. They redid the ramp for our shed with donated plywood that was becoming a hazard, cleaning up around areas where we'll be doing the scavenger hunt and sack races, more plants are growing and transplanted, as well as the daily care of our fish and aquaponic system on top of that. We did end up getting some of our Halloween decorations stolen, but thanks to the support of community we've managed to recover, but we anticipate this to be an event that grows and grows every year. Be sure to bring the kids out for an unforgettable experience! |
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4 bananas donated for our new banana circle that we'll be planting
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2.5+ tons of food waste diverted to compost in October
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Jackfruit tree donated and planted on the west side of the property
- Transplanted our collards, mustard, and tomatoes!
- We've built up 1 additional bed for planting Fall crops
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Lettuce growing beautifully in our aquaponic floating grow bed (see left)
- Harvested 5 gal bucket of worm casting this month for new seedlings
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Upcoming Engagement Opportunities |
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Join us for our 1st Annual Farm-O-Ween!
THE FARM IS ALIVE!!! 🧟♂️👻
Celebrate the Halloween season at St. Pete Youth Farm on Saturday, Oct 29th.
We dare you to navigate all the spooky creatures that live and lurk. Find all the exciting treasures hidden around the farm with a scavenger hunt - only winners leave with a trove of candy. Yes, costumes are encouraged! We will be awarding the best ones with a costume contest so wear your scariest, silliest, or most creative costume.
We'll have sack races, face painting, balloon animals, NOMAD Art Bus painting, candy, and so much more. Get ready for tricks or treats; you decide and we'll provide!
Delightfully delicious food and snacks will be available, just don't be surprised if you find an eyeball or two in the punch. 👀
This a great way to spend Halloween weekend with the family. 🎃
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Saturday Community Workday
October 29th | 9-11am
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Want to help us create a safe, spooky, and fun space for kids in the community to enjoy Halloween? Do you enjoy coming out to the Farm for our Last Saturday Workdays anyway? Good news...
Join us this Saturday for our Farm-O-Ween Workday where we'll be knee deep in hauntifying the farm 9am - 11am!
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Find us in Child's Park for this amazing Health & Wellness Expo put together by Saturday Morning Shoppe.
The Saturday Morning Shoppe partnered with the City of St. Pete to bring a 1 mile walk, expert health fair, bicycle raffles, a FREE BAG OF GROCERIES PER FAMILY, and more!
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St. Pete Run Fest
Join the fun from Nov 11th-13th!
St. Pete Youth Farm is one of the beneficiaries of the run, and our Collaboration Manager, Carla Bristol, will be running the Half Marathon.
Come out and support the Youth Farm as well as dunk some of St. Pete's leaders, artists, and more (including Carla herself) in a dunk tank. All money raised will go directly to the farm. More info here
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Shopapalooza
The BIGGEST Small Business Saturday festival is back this year with over 350+ local makers and businesses. We are one of the nonprofit partners this year which we are as so excited about so come out and say hi and support local!
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Tampa Bay Times | Oct 17th
Two teenage girls dragged a wheelbarrow past a sweet potato patch along the side of a greenhouse. Others bent along the long rows of garden beds, tending to peppers, okra and mustard greens. At the far end of the lot, a group of young men poured buckets of rotting food onto a compost pile, joking as they smashed the remains with shovels. Read more...
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St. Pete Catalyst | Oct 6th
As the Tampa Bay area recovers from what amounted to a relatively mild swipe from Hurricane Ian, some residents are heading south to help those reeling from the pummeling by the historic storm. Read more...
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on what's growing on at the St. Pete Youth Farm!
#TogetherWeGrow
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