The Cultivate Kids program began in 2019 at the Cave Junction Farmers Market with a desire to provide hands-on activities for youth at market, with a focus on sustainable farming, earth friendly gardening practices and connecting to a sense of place.

From pressing apple cider, making planter pots from newspapers,  honey bee demonstrations and caring for baby goats, the Cultivate Kids program has always been about fun, connection to nature and wonder.

In 2023, Cultivate Kids created an on site garden in Kerby. The children planted and cared for a dozen varieties of shade trees, while creating permaculture and pollinator friendly gardens around the trees!

In 2024 we collaborated with RiverStars teen mentors who helped co-lead the Cultivate Kids program. We also added more garden beds and food crops such as watermelon, tomatoes, green beans, corn and squash. What a delight to see children picking and munching on garden produce! The youth created an obstacle course pathway from donated tree rounds, and continued adding new varieties of perennial herbs and flowers. We made pesto, blackberry salsa, ran through sprinklers and continued tending the gardens through the summer heat.

Our winter plans include fencing the garden to deter the local deer, and adding a tool shed and a work bench! We look forward to continually working on our youth led community garden, and helping the children of the Illinois Valley develop sustainable farming and leadership skills in 2025.