Grow Getters and Young Grow Getters returns to mentor the next generation of farmers
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 11, 2022) — Growing Places Indy is excited to announce that both of its farm apprenticeship programs, Grow Getters and Young Grow Getters, will be returning this summer.
Grow Getters is a year-long program that provides hands-on training and mentorship with the goal to train and prepare the next generation of urban farmers. Aspiring farmers will receive ample training and mentorship for sustainable future farming practices, strengthening Indianapolis’s local food systems. The program also provides hands-on farm job training, land access, equipment, mentoring, and other new business development assistance.
Through the Grow Getters program, new farmers will be given resources and mentorship from the Growing Places Indy farm team to begin their farming journey and also join a community of other aspiring farmers for support.
Program applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have at least one year of continuing education or experience post-high school. The candidate must be able to commit at least 20-25 hours per week for the entirety of the program and have an interest in urban agriculture or impacting the local food system.
Inspired by the Grow Getters program, Young Grow Getters is a paid six-week program aimed toward high school students to gain hands-on farming experience and engage with the local food system. This youth-focused initiative provides experiential learning opportunities led by industry professionals in sustainable farming, culinary arts, food production, and technology while offering real-world experience and career readiness skills.
The Young Grow Getters program will teach students vital aspects of urban agriculture through a robust and engaging curriculum. Students will get the opportunity to take field trips and work directly with farmers to gain hands-on experience and better understand the local food system.
Young Grow Getters aims to break the poverty cycle, expose young students to career opportunities in agriculture, build long-term economic self-reliance and food security, and develop a pipeline of trained farmers to create a sustainable future for urban farmers.
Program applicants must be between the ages of 15 -18 and are expected to work an average of 15-hours per week for a total of 90 hours throughout the program.
“Both programs were created out of Growing Places Indy’s vision to create a more just and equitable food system by eliminating barriers for new and developing farmers by providing them with resources,” Executive Director Victoria Beaty said. “We are excited for a new wave of farmers to join us!”
Growing Places Indy believes urban agriculture can support the well-being of individuals and communities in several ways: develop local food systems, contribute to food security, promote economic growth, strengthen social integration, and improve urban biodiversity and environmental health.
Both Grow Getters and Young Grow Getters begin June 6, 2022. Applications for both programs are now open and will close on April 30, 2022. After interviews, accepted applicants will be notified by the end of May. To apply to the programs, visit www.growingplacesindy.org to learn more details.