College of Public Health and Human Sciences

A Collaboration Between Low-Income Youth, Congregations, and Researchers

Welcome to Producing for the Future, a youth garden project designed by researchers at Oregon State University! This project is funded by the National Institutes of Health to explore health benefits of community-based garden programs for low-income youth and to teach gardening, cooking, marketing and research skills. The gardens are located at two local churches in Corvallis and Sweet Home. Join us as we grow good food and spend time cooking, eating and working together.

"Gardening is a great vehicle for healthy eating and physical activity. We're getting our hands in the soil and documenting our experiences." -- Dr. Leslie Richards, lead researcher and Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences.

"The garden is giving me the ability to produce for my self and others versus expecting, or depending on other people." Scierra, 2011 Youth Gardener

For more information or to get involved, please contact Dr. Leslie Richards at Leslie.Richards@oregonstate.edu or 888-478-3011 or fill out our Participant Interest Form

Youth

Do you enjoy working outdoors? Interested in earning up to $1200 as a research incentive during the summer? Willing to work with others to create an organic gardening business? Youth and young adults ages 16 – 20 can sign up now for limited placements in Corvallis or Sweet Home. To qualify, youth must live in households that earn less than two times the poverty level.

Time commitment: Ten hours per month from February – May, and ten hours per week from June - August.

Adults

Love to garden? Want to make a difference in the life of a young person? Curious about how research is done? Adults can volunteer in either the Corvallis or Sweet Home garden.