Growing Hope

Farm and garden programs: this program empowers people of all ages to grow, prepare, and eat nourishing food with hands-on educational opportunities through workshops, training, and field trips on the organization's urban farm demonstration gardens. The organization supports ypsilanti home, community, and school gardens by providing raised beds, compost, seedlings/seeds, tools, and mentorship. In 2023: -we increased our farm's production by 56% through opening up new Growing space. -our composting area was expanded and we partnered with several local organizations and residents to test a community composting system, which yielded nearly 30 yards of organic compost used on Growing Hope's urban farm and throughout the community. -5,403 pounds of produce from our farm was donated directly to the community through our free community produce cart, farm shares for our teen leadership program participants, and donations to other community organizations. -5,000 vegetable seedlings were given to area gardeners for home and community gardens. -60 households participated in the home vegetable garden program, receiving garden beds, resources, and materials. -40 garden beds were installed for the residents of towne center senior living community in downtown ypsilanti. -38 households participated in our inaugural sliding scale csa, "solidarity shares." -115 community members attended Growing Hope's garden-based workshops

Youth and schools programs: garden-based nutrition education is provided for pre-k through 8th-grade youth at the organization's urban farm in classrooms, after-school programs, summer camps, and through its participation in the ypsilanti's farm to school initiative. In its year- round teen employment program, teens grow their leadership and job skills while working on the organization's urban farm, at its markets, and in its incubator kitchen, creating the next changemakers in the local food system. In 2023: -13 teens participated in our summer teen leadership program, 7 participated in our school year teen leadership program and 2 previous graduates returned for summer internships. -teen leadership program participants focused on rebuilding the teen garden, or "the oasis." -teens engaged in new, intergenerational programming as they prepared, cooked, ate, and grew fresh produce with folks at the ypsilanti senior center. -every youth who graduated from the teen leadership program continued to pursue higher education. -290 youth took part in stem-based field trips to the Growing Hope urban farm & ypsilanti farmers market place. -20 youth participated in our in-class gardening and nutrition educational series at ypsilanti international elementary school. -25 children participated in eight weekly sessions at the Growing Hope urban farm in partnership with parkridge summer camp.

Farmers market programs: with an emphasis on increasing access to local fresh foods for underserved populations, the organization manages the depot town ypsilanti farmers market, which provides a vibrant community space for local farmers and food makers to sell directly to customers. Additionally, it manages the ypsi area online market, a safe and convenient option. Six forms of food assistance benefits are accepted at all markets. In 2023: -our depot town market hosted our first-ever power of produce (pop) club with 40 children participating in interactive weekly activities and receiving 3 in market tokens to spend on fresh fruits or vegetables at the market. -we relaunched the indoor winter market downtown, welcoming 150-300 community members each saturday in november and december. -273,000 of local foods and goods were sold through the ypsi area online market and ypsi farmers markets. -18% of all market sales used food assistance. -89 local farmers and food producers sold their products through the ypsilanti farmers markets and ypsi area online market. -360 households placed orders through the online market. -on average, 700 individuals visited the depot town farmers market.

Food entrepreneurship. With the goal of Growing the local food economy, this program supports start-up food makers with access to the organization's incubator kitchen. With 24/7 access to a commerical-grade facility, renters are assisted with food safety regulations, licensing, and creating connections with growers and retail markets. In 2023: -37 local businesses utilized the Growing Hope incubator kitchen services. -10 businesses participated in the economic stabilization program for covid-impacted microenterprises, a program we piloted in partnership with the office of community and economic development, receiving targeted technical assistance, coaching, and a 5,000 grant to help accelerate their business. -3 makers graduated from Growing Hope's incubator kitchen into their own brick-and-mortar establishments. -93 hours of kitchen use were dedicated to programming by our community partners. Community outreach & involvement. Though its outreach, the organization cultivates and partners and volunteers to support and guide its mission in the community. The organization is active in several city, county, and statewide coalitions and networks, advocating for food justice and an equitable and sustainable local food system.