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City teens visit country, learn farm business

TIM CURRAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO

At the end of their weekly visit to Canby, the Phunky Fresh Organic Fir Ridge Farmers pose for a picture. Crouching in the first row are, from left, Fir Ridge Campus SUN Site Manager Anna Sommo, student Marlen Rosales and Growing Entrepreneurs Program Coordinator Olivia Webster. Pictured in the back row are, volunteer Andrea Lang, students Austin Patterson, Khalid Mosley, Miguel Valencia, Avrie D. Clarkson, Frog Meadow Farm owner Derek Hassing, Joselynn Pena, MaKayla Kott and volunteer Brady Lang.
Avrie D. Clarkson, left, Austin Patterson and Khalid Mosley harvest vegetables at Frog Meadow Farm in Canby for their Portland produce stand.
Joselynn Peña, seated, totals Barbara Kienle's purchase, center, while Kamyra Hasan, right, bags it at their produce stand in front of the old South Powellhurst Elementary School building, 2900 S.E. 122nd Ave. The Phunky Fresh Organic Fir Ridge Farmers produce is for sale every Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fruit and vegetables are fresh, the kids selling them entertaining.
Marlen Rosales and Miguel Valencia pick beans at Frog Meadow Farm in Canby.
Mid-county Memo photos/Tim Curran
The self-styled Phunky Fresh Organic Fir Ridge Farmers, most of them in-coming seniors at the alternative high school in the David Douglas School District, are selling the fruits of their summer labor, literally, every Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their produce stand at 2900 S.E. 122nd Ave. in front of the old South Powellhurst Elementary School building.

Using aspects of the 4-H experience, the Growing Entrepreneurs program is a first-year Schools Uniting Neighborhoods summer program funded by Catholic Charities, the community based social service organization that runs SUN Community Schools programs in David Douglas School District.

The goal of the program is for the students to learn about business, nutrition, food preparation, local farmers and farming techniques. They are also learning about new foods and healthier ways to eat. And, with a weekly visit to Frog Meadow Farm in Canby, they connect to rural life and learn about farming.

At the produce stand students learn business practices, customer service, merchandising and even a little salesmanship. The program is designed to give students practical, hands-on business experience.

They lost money one week, but learned from their mistakes and made better choices the next week on what to buy at the farm that sells better in town.

Last year, Fir Ridge students built and planted 18 raised beds behind the school at 11215 S.E. Market St. This year, they are using the harvest learning how to prepare and cook vegetables - they are especially fond of kale it seems - for their afternoon meals. They sell the extra, along with the produce they harvest and purchase, at a discount from Frog Meadow Farm.

Why Canby with so many local farms? It was the first call made by Fir Ridge Campus SUN Site Manager Anna Sommo to one of the farms that fills the weekly vegetable box delivered to her home. Farm owners Nicole and Derek Hassing leapt at the chance to work with the teens, receiving farm work in exchange for their time and teaching.

Derek Hassing said he enjoys working with the kids, and they have been helpful around the farm and seem to enjoy learning in the farm environment.

Maybe the most important thing the teenagers are learning is how to get along, work as a team toward a common goal, and work with others who are different. Avrie Clarkson, who has a commercial artistic interest wants to understand how a business works as he wants to create and market his own fabric art, said, “I learned how to work on a farm; it's really hard to do, but really fun when you get into it. Working as a team and doing this business; getting along helps. It's a good way to get started.”

Originally scheduled to end on Aug. 5, the program was extended to the end of the month. They may not be future farmers of America, but these teens have a growing fondness for fresh, organic food cooked with heart. And are Phunky to boot. Whatever that is.

For questions, or more information, contact Program Coordinator Olivia Webster or Anna Sommo at 503-816-3856.
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