Facilitating Leadership in Youth: Barry Farm Community Garden

Description

The Barry Farms Community Garden is an organic garden located in a park two blocks from the Anacostia metro stop, near Birney Elementary School and the Barry Farms Recreation Center. The garden links youth with the community' s roots and provides them a way to experience results from their own leadership (Barry Farm was given to freedmen who earned a living by farming the land). Over 150 volunteers of all ages have participated in the garden. The garden is youth run, with 5-12 year olds from the FLY tutoring program making a majority of the design and implementation decisions with the help of the Garden Coordinator. Youth come to the garden to be in a nurturing environment where they can learn and work on something constructive. But, most importantly it's fun and allows the youth to build leadership skills and self-confidence.