Applications for Summer 2024 are open until April 15th!
Read about the past Grow Binghamton Seasons!!
Program Overview
The Grow Binghamton youth program provides meaningful employment for 25 youth (ages 14-21) for eight weeks during the spring, six weeks during the summer, and eight weeks during the fall. This program provides youth with the opportunity to build critical life and job skills while engaging them in creating greater food security for Binghamton residents. Youth participate in every aspect of food production from seed starting to distributing produce to Binghamton residents in need of access to fresh affordable food and building community gardens.
In addition to their hard work that produces thousands of pounds of vegetables each year, youth learn soft skills such as accepting constructive criticism, communicating and working in a group, and being punctual and reliable. The curriculum incorporates STEM through composting, soil health, engineering, etymology, and green infrastructure lessons as well as constructing a solar cooker. Broader learning concepts include building community, food policy, and comparisons of conventional and organic food systems. Youth also go through financial literacy training, interview prep, and resume writing skills.
The Fall of 2020 marked the launch of VINES’ youth employment programming during the academic year, offering 8 weeks of employment to 8 youth each fall and spring. They helped build new community gardens and raised beds at the homes of local residents.
More information: Highlights from Past Seasons – Apply for Grow Binghamton – Grow Binghamton Alumni
The Many Facets of Grow Binghamton:
Experience in Agriculture
Field Trips
Workshops
For more information about VINES youth programs, contact us via email tshijuka@vinesgardens.org or phone/text 607-205-8108.
Equal Opportunity Statement Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at VINES, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sex, age, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. This policy of Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.
Grow Binghamton is supported by and funded in part through: City of Binghamton CDBG, Broome County Youth Bureau, Broome County Department of Social Services, United Way of Broome County, M&T Foundation, Farm Credit East.
Thank you to our corporate sponsors for supporting our Grow Binghamton Program!
