Over the course of six weeks, the children learn the meaning of certain things and how to care for the land.
ST. LOUIS — Two vans loaded with energetic children pulled up to a home with an attached urban farm in the West End neighborhood on Thursday.
This is Leah Barnett's first year hosting summer camp with her nonprofit organization, Growing Food Growing People, and it's a dream that began in Barnett's backyard.
Over the course of six weeks, Burnett will teach the children about growing food and caring for the land it grows on.
“Half the day is farm work and the other half incorporates the Lincoln University curriculum, which is STEM focused,” she said.
On Thursday, the 12 campers worked out indoors, participated in icebreakers and attended a gardening meeting before grabbing tools and heading outside to the farm. Some of them sprayed the soil with pesticides, while others kept chickens and rabbits on the property.
“They just need to know where their food comes from,” Barnett says. “They need to know the importance of growing their own food. Caring for the land. Respecting the land. Having expectations for the animals that coexist with it.”
The rest of the year, Growing Food Growing People works in the gardens and distributes produce for free to the community, and they also run classes for women to learn how to farm the land.
Barnett made it clear that this experience is meant to elevate future generations.
“I want them to know that they are needed here on Earth, to sustain the land and create new things,” Burnett said.
The St. Louis farmer hopes to expand the campsite and hire more staff to help with the effort.
5 On Your Side's Travis Cummings will host the Growing Good UnGala in September.
