Our mission is simple. We farm to grow.

We grow leaders. We provide year-round programs for youth ages 9 to 24. We farm to educate and train through gardens and greenhouses. We cultivate leadership through planting, growing, preparing and selling the food we grow.

We grow food. From raspberries to radishes we seed, plant, grow and harvest our food and bring it to our communities’ forks. We feed families through our CSA, community dinners and other neighborhood events.

We grow community. We live in and work in vibrant and diverse Minneapolis neighborhoods of Lyndale, Powderhorn and Hawthorne as well as Frogtown and the West Side neighborhoods of St. Paul.

We grow progress. Since 1995 we’ve created and implemented a development model that grows with our youth to challenge them where they’re at with projects and leadership opportunities tailored to a variety of ages and abilities.

Our philosophy is rooted in service. We farm for good.

We farm to build youth of character.
Our youth develop into responsible, essential and wholehearted members of their own communities.

We farm to serve our community.
Our program is meant to serve the vibrant, diverse and unique communities in which we are present and active.

We farm to create meaningful connections.
Positive relationships with food, peers, families, communities and most importantly themselves create the best and most impactful youth development.

We farm to sustain.
Through the cycle of growing, distributing, cooking and eating we create a complete approach to a healthy self and a healthy community.

We farm to be a good neighbor.
Creating stronger communities, more engaged citizens and happier neighborhoods by focusing on local leadership, partnership and development opportunities.

Our goals are dynamic. We farm to transform.

Youth Farm works within a unique progressive program model, where the outcomes of each program build upon the outcomes of the previous set.

• Youth Farmers (ages 9-11)
• All-Stars (ages 12-13)
• Project LEAD (ages 14-18)
• Farm Stewards (ages 19-24)

Our goals are consistent through each program:

• Build young leaders
• Promote healthy bodies and minds
• Contribute to the positive identity of children and youth
• Create neighborhood connections and community opportunities for contribution
• Develop and nurture healthy relationships

Youth Farm. Where Leadership Grows.