The Urban Farm

THE URBAN FARM (TUF) IS A COMMUNITY FARM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR URBAN RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AGRICULTURE BY REMOVING THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY SUCH AS LAND ACCESS, TIME, LOCATION AND FINANCES. TUF INSPIRES EXCITEMENT FOR LEARNING THROUGH PRACTICAL WORK EXPERIENCE AND HANDS-ON EDUCATION WHILE FOSTERING RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, CURIOSITY, COMPASSION AND GRIT.

PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2021THE URBAN FARM (TUF) IS A COMMUNITY FARM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR URBAN RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AGRICULTURE BY REMOVING THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY SUCH AS LAND ACCESS, TIME, LOCATION AND FINANCES. TUF INSPIRES EXCITEMENT FOR LEARNING THROUGH PRACTICAL WORK EXPERIENCE AND HANDS-ON EDUCATION WHILE FOSTERING RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, CURIOSITY, COMPASSION AND GRIT. FARM-TO-SCHOOL: PRE-K-12 STUDENTS ENJOY FIELD TRIPS ON THE FARM, CURRICULUM IS ALIGNED WITH EDUCATION STANDARDS IN NATURAL & SOCIAL SCIENCES. THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, FOOD SYSTEMS & HORTICULTURE. IN 2021 TUF SERVED OVER 3,000 THROUGH IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS AND OVER 500 YOUTH THROUGH VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING TO ACCOMMODATE PANDEMIC CONDITIONS. FOOD DONATIONS OVER 14,000 LBS OF FARM FRESH VEGETABLES, MEAT, AND EGGS RAISED AT TUF WITH WERE DONATED TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND FREE MARKETS. SUMMER DISCOVERY: OVER 525 CHILDREN ATTENDED TUFS CAMPS IN 2021 OVER 12 WEEKS CAMPS FOR YOUNG FARMERS & HORSEBACK RIDERS WERE OFFERED, WHERE YOUTH AGES 4-16 LEARN HOW TO CARE FOR ANIMALS, CULTIVATE CROPS & BE STEWARDS OF THE LAND. EQUESTRIAN PROGRAM: OVER 80 YOUTH (8-18) LEARN HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS FROM BEGINNER TO ADVANCED THROUGH OUR YEAR-ROUND RIDING PROGRAM. RIDERS CAN COMPETE AS A TEAM IN THE INTERSCHOLASTIC EQUESTRIAN ASSOCIATION & TUFS SHOWS, REMOVING BARRIERS TO A SPORT TYPICALLY LIMITED TO THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO LEASE OR OWN A HORSE. CULTIVATING CHANGE IN YOUTH: TUF AND DENVER JUVENILE SERVICES- HELPING YOUTH PURSUE EXCELLENCE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN COLLABORATION SINCE 2015 TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SINCE 2020 TUF HAS PROVIDED EARN-WHILE-YOU-LEARN OPPORTUNITIES ON THE FARM, TO OVER 100 YOUTH. IN ADDITION, ALL YOUTH ARE PROVIDED WITH 2 MEALS PER DAY AND GROCERY BOXES. TUF KIDS: TEENS DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS. TUF KIDS DEVOTE VOLUNTEER HOURS, ACT AS FARM AMBASSADORS & ASSIST WITH PROGRAM INSTRUCTION. GOWILD PROGRAMS: THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH GOCO, TUF PROVIDES ON AND OFF-SITE PROGRAMMING TO YOUTH IN NORTHEAST METRO DENVER AND AURORA FREE OF CHARGE. OFFERINGS INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, RIDING LESSONS & PAID INTERNSHIPS. IN 2021, TUF OFFERED OFF-SITE PROGRAMMING TO OVER 2360 YOUTH. LIVESTOCK CLUBS & CLASSES: TUF HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST 4 H PROGRAMS ON THE FRONT RANGE AND IS UNIQUE IN ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO UTILIZE ANIMALS THAT LIVE AT THE FARM. YOUTH LEARN HOW TO RAISE, BREED AND SHOW LIVESTOCK. 172 YOUTH ARE ENROLLED IN POULTRY, SHEEP & GOATS CLUBS AND PROGRAMS.