Grand Valley's Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) has partnered with New City Neighbors to expand the educational farm.
New City Neighbors, a local community development organization, will utilize 1 acre of agricultural land at the SAP for the project. The home base of New City Neighbors is a 1-acre urban farm in the Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids, where high school students in the neighborhood can receive job and life skills training.
Earlier this year, New City Neighbors received news that the lease on a 3-acre urban farm in Grand Rapids could not be renewed. Crystal Scott-Tunstall, an affiliate professor of environmental and sustainability studies at Grand Valley and New City Neighbors board member, heard the news and saw an opportunity for the organization to work together with GVSU on a solution.
Ricardo Tavárez, executive director of New City Neighbors, says the partnership will bolster the organization's mission of empowering young people.
"We can now bring our diverse pool of high school students onto the campus of a local university, building relationships and on-ramps to higher education in the burgeoning field of environmental and sustainability studies at GVSU," said Tavárez.
On November 16, members of GVSU's Farm Club joined volunteers from New City Neighbors and the SAP in installing a high-tunnel greenhouse on the farm. The produce grown in this space will feed those in need.
"We are so excited to grow alongside the New City Neighbors," said Yumiko Jakobcic, Office of Sustainability Practices director. "The SAP’s students will have the benefit of engaging with an on-site food justice organization, and the students with New City Neighbors will get to experience GVSU’s campus."
To learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture Project, visit gvsu.edu/sap.
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