The Central Area Urban Gardeners (CAUG) held its very successful Community Open House on June 5, 2015. CAUG is an urban indoor gardening demonstration project located in the Central Area of Seattle. The project is funded by a neighborhood community grant to demonstrate that local residents can grow healthy, affordable, organic, fruits, vegetables and herbs in a controlled environment, indoors - all year long, without sunlight or soil. Over 20 organizations and 150 people attended.
Utilizing the latest hydroponic system technology, it is one of the newest approaches to food production and nutrition advancement that emphasizes food security, health and community revitalization.
CAUG provides training in Hydroponic Gardening to high school students from Garfield, Nova and Alder High Schools, as well as young adults from Seattle Metro YMCA, Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI) and Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Training is also available for local residents and seniors.
Former State Representative and Founder of First Place Charter School, Dawn Mason, brought members of the staff and student body over to view the project. She said she was impressed with what she saw. "We are a neighborhood school and this is a neighborhood project so we see this as our garden. It is important for our students to see something positive happening right here close by."
Rev. Harriett Walden, a long-time community leader and a well known advocate against police brutality and Founder of Mothers for Police Accountability was also impressed - "This is extremely important," emphasized Rev. Walden, "Food will always be an issue and we have the ability to grow our own food and you need that for survival." Rev. Walden also stated that the project was a transformative moment. "It’s about transformation, and this project will help transform this area."
Site tours are available. Call in advance. Volunteers are welcome and donations are accepted.
Central Area Urban Gardeners
A new economic engine for sustainable living: Produce, Training
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Gardeners Celebrate Successful Community Open House
CAUG Concludes 21st Ave Project
Seattle Medium Notes CAUG Efforts
A recent article in the Seattle Medium covered the graduation of our first group of hydroponic gardening trainees. From the Medium...
Maxine Mimms Academies Create Indoor Hydroponic Gardening Program For Urban Youth
Last Friday, the first seven out of 15 students ages 18-24 received honors and certifications as Hydroponic Agricultural Technicians from the Maxine Mimms Academies’ Indoor Hydroponic Urban Farming Initiative. This initiative is the latest program created by the Maxine Mimms Academies (MMA), which was originally founded to support suspended and expelled students, and which has had a long history of supporting the education of vulnerable and displaced youth.
“Maxine Mimms Academies’ new indoor hydroponic agricultural program is the first of its kind that educates, trains, and is job creation focused,” says Isa Nichols, CEO and Executive Director of the Maxine Mimms Academies. “It is a true collaboration of Pierce County Agency’s working of our resources to serve youth and young adults.”
Recently, MMA has joined forces with Seattle’s Central Area Urban Garden (CAUG) Demonstration Project to house the MMA’s Indoor Hydroponic Urban Farming Initiative’s Garden of Eden (114 21st Ave, Seattle, WA 98118), which was founded by Michael Twiggs, MMA’s Chief Operating Officer and Technology Director. At the garden, located at 114 21st Ave. in Seattle, the students learn how to grow produce herbs and produce such as lettuce, basil, tomatoes, strawberries, and more using the MMA’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum which promotes environmentally sound principles through Hydroponic Farming. Produce harvested from MMA’s Indoor Hydroponic Urban Farming Initiative will go to feed the students in the program, families and seniors in the community, and local food banks.
Austin Burton, Shiquan Cook, Jordon Cox, Michael Farve, Avery Greer, Taylor Porter, and Montek Smith are the seven of the original 15 students who participated in the 10 week program and completed 165 hours of indoor hydroponic education and training, food handling and hygiene course work, as well as employment skills development and case management learning to receive their certification.
MMA is named after Dr. Maxine Mimms, who is the Founder of the Tacoma Evergreen State College, and the Maxine Mimms Academies. Dr. Mimms is a highly recognized education consultant that has provided leadership and guidance to both public and private schools – including the Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership academy for Girls in South Africa and the Cicely Tyson’s School of Performing and Fine Arts in East Orange, New Jersey.
First Crop Approaching Maturity
First Students Receive Certificates
Our first cohort of student growers has completed introductory training in hydropics. Certificates were awarded in early May. One of our graduates served as a coordinator in our after school high school program this spring and will remain with the project as a mentor to high school students in our summer 2015 program, which is sponsored by the local YMCA.
Volunteers Meet Staff
Our community garden kickoff for the Central Area Urban Garden was held successfully April 19 with about 25 persons attending. Participants heard from GOE Founder Michael Twiggs, Lead Gardener Charlie James and others during the two-hour session.
Participants will be listed soon in the member directory, and the website will soon have a registration feature. We especially invite residents of zip code 98122 to participate.
Participants will be listed soon in the member directory, and the website will soon have a registration feature. We especially invite residents of zip code 98122 to participate.