The Green Teen Community Gardening Program is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County. It focuses on hiring local teens to participate in a variety of new learning experiences. The teens work in different gardens and farms, produce salsa from the vegetables grown and then sell it in the summer— all while learning about the importance of eating locally, recycling, using compost and educating others about what they learn.

I have worked with this program for about two years. During that time, I’ve learned how to make compost and the benefits of using it in a garden. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, compost may be used to grow plants and is essentially created by combining organic wastes such as food wastes and manure with materials like wood chips. It greatly impacts the environment in a number of ways, including pollution prevention.

In addition to promoting this positive effect, Green Teen helps the environment through recycling efforts, using biodegradable utensils, educating the community about being green, growing food sustainably without using pesticides and the importance of eating locally. This program is teaching a younger generation to use the food system the right and safe way.

On a personal note, my social skills, among others, have also greatly improved while working with Green Teen. I can now lead a group with confidence. Not only has Green Teen prepared me for a variety of careers, but it has also taught me so much at each place that I have worked. Now I can pass on this healthy and safe knowledge to future generations.

Jasmine Matos is an 18-year-old Spring Crew Leader for the Green Teen Community Gardening Program. She has been involved in it for about two years. To learn more about the program and get inspired by teens like you, visit www.greenteen.org.

Pictured Above: The Spring Green Teen Group gets ready to dig up the front lawn of the old Beacon High School and turn the grass into vegetables.

• sources: www.greenteen.org