The Laurel Valley Educational Farm (LVEF) is a 2 acre organic farm located on the Northwest Youth Corps campus on Augusta St. in Eugene. The farm serves as the basis for sustainable natural resource education for youth participating in Northwest Youth Corps programs throughout the year.
In the winter and spring students in the OutDoor High School, working with staff and AmeriCorps members, prepare the garden, make compost and work on garden construction projects. In the garden, grow room and greenhouse students plant seeds, and transplant seedlings while learning lessons on soils, water, ecology, botany and biology.
This summer our new YouthGrow program will be working with youth 9-13 years old to help maintain the garden. During the three week session participants receive lessons in organic gardening techniques, botany, soils, plant and insect id, and nutrition while working in the garden and taking field education trips and hikes. Participants will also perform community service by helping maintain School Garden Project Gardens.
YouthGrow will also help put together our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes and staff the new Farm Stand on Wednesday afternoons, 12 to 6pm. Participants will learning valuable lessons in customer service, and how to prepare and present produce for sale. YouthGrow participants are also encouraged to enjoy the fruits of their labor, learning lessons in nutrition, by making themselves salads for lunch and learning how to make healthy meals.
In addition, produce from the garden goes out into the field to feed the hungry 14-19 year old Northwest Youth Corps crews working on conservation projects in Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho.
For more information you can call 541-349-5055 or email nyc@nwyouthcorps.org. If you'd like to join YouthGrow, fill out an application and mail it to 2621 Augusta St, Eugene, OR 97403 or fax it to 541-349-5055.
What do we grow at the LVEF?
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Lettuce Mix
- Heirloom Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Winter Squash
- Summer Squash and Melons
- Potatoes
- Strawberries and Raspberries
- Carrots, Beets, Leeks
- Cabbages and Hardy Greens
- Cucumbers
- Garlic
- Basil and assorted Herbs
- Onions
- Beans
- And much more!
