Students participating in the Toronto Urban Farm program learn more than just where food comes from.
Youth 15 to 22 in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood are not only responsible for planting, weeding and harvesting food from an eight-acre farm at the southeast corner of Jane Street and Steeles Avenue at Black Creek Pioneer Village, but they also learn how to behave at a job and gain working experience if they would like to pursue an education - or job - in landscape or gardening."It also opens other doors for them so if they want to continue their education through college or university programs or if they want to pick up work with a landscaping company, they've got some experience," said Kevin Bowser, manager of parks, City of Toronto, which oversees Toronto Urban Farm.Students also receive help with resumes and job searching, and offers a mentoring program. Youth employees who are in college and university are paired with employees in or out of high school."We hope the mentoring works to say 'This is what I did. I've experienced everything you have and this is what I did to get an education and get a job and this is what I'm doing today,'" Bowser said.