AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant Past Projects

Grant Recipients

These are the previous recipients of the AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant, listed by fiscal year.

2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018

Fiscal Year 2023
Organization	Project Summary
Audubon Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis	Develop a vacant half-acre lot located in Northeast Minneapolis to provide fresh, culturally-specific produce to low-wealth neighbors in need. In addition, the project will offer workshops focusing on agriculture and value-added production, host on-site markets, and provide mentorships.
Augsburg University, Minneapolis	The Cedar-Riverside Urban Agriculture Regeneration Project will increase food production and build community capacity by offering culturally appropriate training and technical support to gardeners in the Cedar-Riverside Neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Bancroft Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis	This project will support an assistant mentor position and provide stipends to youth engaged in their summer gardening program. Youth will tend boulevard, backyard, and community gardens and make their harvest available through free vegetable stands and by hosting community meals.
Black Storytellers Alliance, Minneapolis	The Black Storytellers Youth/Community Initiative Program (BSAYCIP) will focus on educating urban youth in agricultural self-sufficiency with the goal of expanding agriculture within the North Minneapolis community. BSAYCIP will allow youth to participate in the process of running a communal garden using farm techniques such as preparing seedlings, planting, maintaining, cultivating, and harvesting food for the community.
Cimarron Community Farm, Lake Elmo	Cimarron Community Farm will revamp their farm program to focus on all aspects of growing food from seed to table. They will offer hands-on experiences for youth to plant, water, manage, harvest, and create meals using vegetables they grew at the farm. The farm will create new entrepreneurial opportunities for youth, especially teens, by selling produce at the farmers' market and engaging neighbors.
Duluth Community Garden Program, Duluth	Duluth Community Garden Program will create a community garden hub at their Fox Hole Community Garden site. They will build two greenhouses, a shed for storage, and workshop space to host classes for gardeners and the greater community.
Ecolibrium3 (Eco3), Duluth	Eco3 will expand its programming at the formerly closed farm site at Lake Superior College to repurpose underutilized infrastructure and build long-term viability by improving the farm site’s programming to align with Lincoln Park's community-expressed needs.
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC), Cloquet	The FDLTCC Sustainability Demonstration Garden Project will create an intentional demonstration space located at the 14th Street Campus that will encompass renewable energy systems, farmer business development, student-led community demonstrations, and a seasonal farmers' market.
Harvest Hope Farm, Moorhead	Harvesting Hope for Others Farm Camps will expand their offerings to include ‘Farm Camp on Wheels’ to be facilitated at Robert Asp Elementary School located in Moorhead. The project will expand youth knowledge of sustainable food resources and expose youth to methods of growing produce including raised beds, hydroponic gardens, container gardens, trellis' and in-ground gardens.
Laurel Community School, St. Paul	Laurel Community School’s Agri-Science Educational Gardens will transform an academic instruction in science into a hands-on curriculum about concepts in science and agriculture. Students will grow plants from seeds and harvest produce to share with their community. Students will also be introduced to insects that live in the garden and to the microscopic world in the soil.
NativeWise, Sawyer	NativeWise will construct an outdoor learning space to support their workshops focusing on the intergenerational transfer of indigenous agricultural knowledge. This space will create a hands-on learning environment for youth to learn about topics such as plant surveys, seed saving, pasture rotation, forest ecology, bison ecology, and medicinal herb harvesting and processing.
Spark-Y, Minneapolis	Spark-Y will construct an educational market garden and outdoor kitchen at WEE Farms located in Savage, providing a youth and community learning site for multicultural agriculture education. In addition, they will curate a recipe book that highlights culturally significant cuisine and gardening techniques of three initial ethnic groups important to Minnesota’s local food system: Hmong, Native American, and Chinese. Finally, they will develop a youth-focused certification on sustainable food systems, multicultural farming, and culinary education.
St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS), St. Paul	SPYS’ YouthPowerMN Leadership Institute will develop and pilot YouthPowerED curriculum that will focus on how Black history & identity are impacted by the food system, the history of Black agriculture, and ways that community gardens contribute to equity and food justice within the food system. The curriculum will include garden design, crop varieties, harvesting/preparing food, and visiting local community gardens and partner organizations working with innovative gardening techniques such as small-scale aquaponics.
Urban Roots, St. Paul	Urban Roots will use this funding to consult with an irrigation specialist and invest in irrigation infrastructure at their East Side farm sites.
Urban Ventures, Minneapolis	Urban Ventures will build 30 raised beds on top of their asphalt parking lot to meet the demand for locally grown, organic food from residents of the neighborhood. In addition, they will add five Ag and Nutrition Educators to increase the opportunities for youth to attend Urban Venture's urban farming and nutrition programs.

Fiscal Year 2022
Organization	Project Summary
American Indian Community Housing Organization, Duluth	Continue Giinawiind Giginitaawigi'gomin programming with Indigenous youth in the Duluth community to restore connections to cultural food practices through gardening, farming, and entrepreneurial skill-building. Youth will attend field trips to area farms, tend urban garden plots, create value-added products, and sell those goods at local farmers’ markets.
Appetite for Change, Minneapolis	Establish two “Urban Agriculture Campus” sites in North Minneapolis and transform an existing site into a community garden space. The creation of these sites will increase agriculture education opportunities for youth in North Minneapolis.
Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area, Bemidji	Continue to support the youth urban agriculture program with additional staff support from the garden manager, an assistant garden manager, a culinary program consultant, an additional hydroponic growing unit, and other essential supplies.
Brooklyn Center Community Schools, Brooklyn Center	Support the Gathering Gifts from the Garden Project at Brooklyn Community Schools (BCCS) by developing three distinct garden spaces: a giving garden, a pollinator garden, and a community garden. These spaces will be used by students, community members, and staff to address urban food security issues, teach agriculture production skills, support service-learning projects, and build a sense of belonging and confidence in outdoor spaces within BIPOC populations.
Family Freedom Center, Duluth	Increase food production and access at FFC’s two farm sites in the Lincoln Park and Hillside neighborhoods of Duluth. Funds will be used to develop underutilized spaces at these sites and support programming costs and wages for a garden manager and a program coordinator.
Hand In Hand Montessori, Roseville	Teach youth sustainable agricultural practices through the development of a productive urban forest. Youth will participate in the planting of 75 fruit trees, participate in local maple syrup production, and attend workshops relating to tree care, forest regeneration, and tree propagation. Workshops will integrate Indigenous knowledge and practices with botany, ecology, and food science. Maple syrup production will be in collaboration with Nawayee Center School, located in Minneapolis.
Lower Phalen Creek Project, St. Paul	Create the Indigenous Teaching Gardens at Wakáŋ Tipi Center within Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in Saint Paul. The program will create safe, Dakota-informed teaching gardens that enable youth (ages 5 to 24 years old) to learn about Dakota traditions for sustenance and healing using native plants. Youth will learn organic and sustainable urban plant cultivation, foraging, and understand the importance of restoring and maintaining clean water.
Native American Community Development Institute, Minneapolis	Advance Indigenous food sovereignty, strengthen farmer to consumer enterprises, and reverse health disparities in Urban Indian communities via the Four Sisters Urban Farm. The project will educate and serve as a training ground for farming, food preparation, and distribution.
Northside Residents Redevelopment Council, Minneapolis	Train youth as urban farmers at the Demonstration Site for Healthy Urban Living located in North Minneapolis. Youth will learn and teach skills in urban gardening, backyard chicken raising, and the use of rain barrels, in addition to becoming community leaders who will advocate for and expand small-scale agriculture and sustainability practices throughout the community.
Nova Classical Academy Green Team, St. Paul	Continue to build Nova’s community garden by creating a drip irrigation system and adding a bee and pollinator spaces for further environmental benefit. These implements will serve as new ways for the Nova community to learn the importance of environmental conservation and to observe nature’s inner workings up close.
Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis	Increase capacity to host MPS students at the MPS Culinary Center Education Farm for hands-on, agricultural education through increased staff time and key physical improvements to the farm. This project will support the installation of an orchard and medicinal garden, curriculum development, and expanded engagement opportunities for MPS youth.
Urban Roots MN, St. Paul	Increase urban agricultural youth enterprise and community engagement on the East Side of St. Paul by rebuilding the produce wash station at 845 Edgerton Street, purchasing and installing equipment, materials, and shipping containers to facilitate increased crop production and youth education activities at Rivoli Bluff Farm & Restoration Site, and hiring two staff to increase capacity for urban agricultural youth programming at Rivoli Bluff and entrepreneurship activities increasing community food access at more farmers market events.
Urban Ventures, Minneapolis	Support the Urban Ventures Farm & Nutrition project, educating urban youth in environmental and horticulture science through hands-on farming and bringing locally grown organic food to a community designated as a food desert. Youth will help to run the farm by planting, cultivating, and harvesting food they grow. Youth also gain experience in caring for chickens, bees, and hydroponic plants.
YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, Minneapolis	Engage BIPOC students and provide the opportunity to participate in hands-on, immersive agriculture education in their urban setting. Youth will plant heritage seeds and learn about their cultivation from the seed gatherers and other adult scholars from The DIG Lab and All Nation’s Youth in Community Assistance Program (ANYCAP). Youth will also learn how to use solar systems to power aeroponic growing systems, explore agriculture methods, and actualize high level "green" and agriculture careers.

Fiscal Year 2021
Organization	Project Summary
American Indian Community Housing Organization, Duluth	AICHO is working with middle and high school students to foster youth development, strengthen the Indigenous food system, and ensure greater and more sustainable access to healthy Indigenous foods through community gardening projects.
Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area, Bemidji	The Boys and Girls Club of Bemidji is installing a hydroponic growing system at their site to expand their youth agricultural lessons and extend their growing season year-round.
Detroit Lakes High School, Detroit Lakes	Detroit Lakes High School is building a long-lasting greenhouse for ag-based curriculum and projects, making agricultural education accessible to all students at every grade level.
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Fond du Lac	The Fond du Lac Band is remodeling and expanding the Babaamaadiziwin Gitigaan (Journey Garden) and their outdoor kitchen space to serve as a centerpiece for agricultural education and community development
Growing North Minneapolis, Minneapolis	Growing North Minneapolis is hiring youth workers to work at 21 community garden sites, learning ag-based entrepreneurial skills through hands-on growing experiences with farmers and mentors.
Hope Community, Minneapolis	Hope Community is educating and engaging 40 youth in three "Farm Science" community garden projects.
Lionsgate Academy, Minnetonka	Lionsgate Academy is building a greenhouse to advance career exploration and other learning opportunities for their students.
Mankato Area Public Schools, Mankato	Mankato Area Public Schools is building a technology-enhanced greenhouse project to prepare students for "22nd Century" jobs focusing on farm to fork production and sustainability.
North Country Food Alliance, Minneapolis	North Country Food Alliance is working with the Somali American Farming Association to expand and update the community garden located at the Horn Towers. The project will also include two food fellows and cultural interpreters to increase accessibility to the garden for residents.
Nova Classical Academy Green Team, St. Paul	Nova Classical Academy’s student-led Green Team is installing raised beds and a composter to create educational opportunities for all students.
Twin Cities Community Agricultural Land Trust, St. Paul	Twin Cities Community Agricultural Land Trust is upgrading and installing garden equipment to enhance youth lessons and improving accessibility at the UMN Peace Sanctuary Garden, located in St. Paul.
Urban Roots, St. Paul	Urban Roots is continuing the development of the Rivoli Urban Farm Site on the East Side of St. Paul.
Youth Farm, Minneapolis	Youth Farm is hiring teens and a program specialist for the Youth Social Enterprise (YSE) program, using urban agricultural experiences to improve food access, community health, education, and career development.

Fiscal Year 2020
Organization	Project Summary
Appetite for Change, Minneapolis	Train youth and increase production of fresh, organic produce to support on-going urban agriculture initiatives for North Minneapolis residents.
ARTS-Us, St. Paul	Develop a year-round program to teach youth urban agriculture practices related to African Diaspora.
Center School, Inc., Minneapolis	Teach local youth to grow, harvest, and preserve indigenous crops and heritage foods.
Community Action Duluth, Duluth	Provide new urban agriculture employment opportunities to increase local foods production for area farmers markets and the Duluth Farm to School program.
FAIR Pilgrim Lane PTO, Robbinsdale	Establish a community garden at FAIR Pilgrim Lane Elementary in Robbinsdale. Project will focus on the production of organic vegetables and herbs, pollinator habitats, and an outdoor classroom.
Fond du Lac Reservation, Cloquet	Provide agricultural infrastructure to support Cary Road Farm, a community farm that works to increase food security, food production, and community health for members of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Frogtown Farm, St. Paul	Provide farm tours for local schools and youth organizations. Provide paid internships for neighborhood youth to work on the farm during the growing season.
Live Organically, Minneapolis	Establish the Grow Organically Education Program to provide farming, nutrition, and wellness classes and training to North Minneapolis youth.
SLP SEEDS, St. Louis Park	Construct a "Tiny" Nomadic Greenhouse Farm offering "Lunch and Learn" programs for local schools, the public library, and nearby affordable housing complexes.
Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis	Install an outdoor/indoor growing space at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis to extend the growing season and explore cold climate food production.
Success Academy, Bloomington	Build a Deep Winter Greenhouse for year-round vegetable production and increased STEM education opportunities.
University of Minnesota Extension, St. Cloud	Start a new youth-led 4-H club community garden and apiary to serve St. Cloud youth.

Fiscal Year 2019
Organization	Project Summary
Appetite for Change	Train youth in urban agriculture and expand garden to increase the amount of produce grown.
Duluth Community Garden Program	Expand the One Vegetable, One Community program through after school programming and community garden improvements.
Fairmont Area Kinship	Mentorship program for youth and adults surrounding the life cycle of plants.
Frogtown Farm	Provide farm tours to local schools and youth organizations. Apprentice local youth in urban farming techniques.
ISD 2752 Fairmont Community Education and Recreation	Enhance science and math lessons through the use of educational tower gardens.
Little Earth Resident’s Association	Teach local youth about traditional Native American methods of nurturing, harvesting, preparing, and distributing crops.
Our Community Food Projects	Develop a sustainable method of growing Cassava in Minnesota.
Spark-Y	Expand current urban agriculture farm into the Northeast Sustainability Hub.
Urban Roots	Develop a site on Saint Paul's Eastside into an educational urban farm and production destination.
Victory Neighborhood Association	Teach families in North Minneapolis how to grow produce along their alleyways and boulevards.

Fiscal Year 2018
Organization	Project Summary
Appetite for Change	Urban farming, culinary skills, community organizing, and job readiness training program for North Minneapolis youth.
Frogtown Farm	Provide farm tours to local schools and youth organizations. Apprentice local youth in urban farming techniques.
Lakeview Elementary School – Robbinsdale Area Schools	Expansion of school garden including greenhouse, outdoor classroom, and food forest.
Little Earth Resident’s Association	Development of agriculture and nutrition education program based on Native American values.
Prairie Island Indian Community	Implementation of a micro-farm aquaponics system.
Project Sweetie Pie	Creation of a youth and adult education center and greenhouse.
University of Minnesota – Bee Lab	Pollinator education training program.
University of Minnesota – Extension	Development of agriculture and food related youth programming.
Youth Farm	Implementation of education program meant to develop career and workforce skills related to food and social change.