Aiden Jensen’s first time ever speaking in front of a large crowd went about as well as you could expect.
Between the 63 of the 75 students attending the Faith Farms’ Next Urban Agriculture Generation/Junior Urban Master Producer graduation and all their supporters, the 14-year-old, who is a second-year student, understood that it was going to be a packed house Saturday morning at ArtHouse: A Social Kitchen. Still, it was daunting, and Aiden paused a few times during his remarks on the coolest things he learned, like killing squash bugs and building raised garden beds for people.
Damon Bazziel, the program’s lead instructor and internship coordinator, couldn’t have been prouder of him.
“This is a full learning experience, and public speaking is part of it,” Bazziel told Aiden when he came to say “Hi” as the crowd was getting themselves breakfast. “You did great.”
Next Urban Agriculture Generation/Junior Urban Master Producer, or NUAG/JUMP, is a program for students in grades six through 12 that focuses primarily on urban farming but has become so much more, Program Director Tifany Jamison said. Along with farming, the students learn leadership, financial literacy and teamwork skills, she said.
There’s also healthy eating, public health and mitigating food waste, among other skills, she added.
“NUAG champions advocacy for Urban communities, shaping the youth into informed advocates,” Jamison said. “The program is designed to prepare participants for academic success, college readiness and overall life competency.”
Program graduates are then eligible to participate in an internship with Faith Farm & Orchard for the summer, Bazziel said.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said Saturday was his second time attending the graduation ceremony, and he’s still bummed that he hasn’t gotten his requisite uniform of overalls that the students wear. But he remains impressed with what the kids are learning.
“You planted seeds, and what did it produce? You’re planting life,” Melton said. “We always hear that we grew up in a ‘food desert,’ but what NUAG is doing is debunking the myths. Look at the process of planting a seed: You put it in dirt and it’s in a dark place, but something happens: It germinates into something good.”
Niahila Harper, 16 of Gary, got into the program because she and her mom, Swahali McNeil, love animals and thought it would be fun. Sure enough, hanging out with the goats is her favorite part.
Her little brother, Matthew Williams, 11, is more a fan of composting.
“You can do it in any container: You put the green stuff in first, then the browns — sticks and other stuff — on top,” he explained. “I really appreciate being part of the program.”
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
