Video: Cultivating Connections Youth Farm Internship Program

Cultivating Connections is a service-learning internship at Homestead Organics Farm offered to Bitterroot Valley high school students. Throughout the summer of 2016, interns planted, tended and harvested selected crops. Each week, they donated over 200 lbs of fresh, local, organic produce to the the Ravalli County Council on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program. Food became the connector between youth and elders, making this a true cross-generational collaboration.

Students also experienced hands-on learning with many practical topics, including organic agriculture, animal husbandry and sustainable living practices. Each week, community members and professionals shared presentations and hosted on-site tours to foster connection and growth. Weekly workshop subjects included youth leadership, economic empowerment, financial intelligence, civic engagement and real world job skills.

A MAPS Works student film crew documented the Cultivating Connections program from seed planting to harvest. Student filmmakers bridged the art of growing food with the art of telling stories.

Cultivating Connections is proudly supported by Homestead Organics Farm, MAPS Media Institute, Farmers State Bank and Ravalli County Council on Aging.

from Peter Rosten

Video: https://vimeo.com/188052553