As part of the Building a Stronger Bitterroot series at Cultivating Connections, Jim Gerrish joined us at Red Rock Farm in Hamilton to teach us about Management Intensive Soil Grazing. More forage, no chemicals, and healthy soils. The event was filmed by Darby High School Senior Dillon Macillwraith.

Cultivating Connections is a service-learning internship at Homestead Organics Farm offered to Bitterroot Valley high school students. Throughout the summer of 2016, interns planted, tended and harvested selected crops. Each week, they donated over 200 lbs of fresh, local, organic produce to the the Ravalli County Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels program. Food became the connector between youth and elders, making this a true cross-generational collaboration. Students also experienced hands-on learning with many practical topics, including organic agriculture, animal husbandry and sustainable living practices. Each week, community members and professionals shared presentations and hosted on-site tours to foster connection and growth. Weekly workshop subjects included youth leadership, economic empowerment, financial intelligence, civic engagement and real world job skills. A MAPS Works student film crew documented the Cultivating Connections program from seed planting to harvest. Student filmmakers bridged the art of growing food with the art of telling stories. Cultivating Connections is proudly supported by Homestead Organics Farm, MAPS Media Institute, Farmers State Bank and Ravalli County Council on Aging.

Join Laura Garber, owner of Homestead Organics Farm, as she welcomes the Cultivating Connections student interns on their first day at the farm. Cultivating Connections is farm-based internship at Homestead Organics Farm and offered to 6 Bitterroot Valley high school students and will directly result in a weekly donation of over 200 lbs of fresh, local, organic produce to the Ravalli County Council on Aging Meals on Wheels program all summer long. Growing food will be the connection point between the younger generation and elders in our community, making this a true cross-generational collaboration. Students will experience hands-on learning with many practical topics, including organic agriculture, animal husbandry and sustainable living practices. Each week, community members and professionals will share presentations and host on site tours to foster connection and growth. Weekly workshop subjects include youth leadership, economic empowerment, financial intelligence, civic engagement and real world job skills.

Join the Cultivating Connections Youth Farm Interns as they deliver fresh produce and flowers to Meals on Wheels recipients.

Since 2011, Homestead Organics Farm and B.E.A.R. (Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources) partner together each summer and offer a week long Sprouts Farm Camp for elementary aged students. Campers learn about animals, growing vegetables, team building and farm fun! Sprouts Camp was the third week of the Cultivating Connections Internship program. Cultivating Connections is a farm-based internship at Homestead Organics Farm offered to 8 Bitterroot Valley high school students throughout the summer of 2016. Interns plant, tend and harvest over 200 lbs of fresh, local, organic produce each week and donate to the Ravalli County Council on Aging Meals on Wheels program. Growing food is the connection point between the younger generation and elders in our community, making this a true cross-generational collaboration. Students experience hands-on learning with many practical topics, including organic agriculture, animal husbandry and sustainable living practices. Each week, community members and professionals share presentations and host on-site tours to foster connection and growth. Weekly workshop subjects include youth leadership, economic empowerment, financial intelligence, civic engagement and real world job skills.

Join the Cultivating Connections interns as they welcome Katrina Mendrey and Katelyn Anderson of the MSU Ravalli County Extension. Katrina teaches a workshop on the benefits of composting and the need for local agriculture, while Katelyn facilitates team building and youth leadership. Cultivating Connections is a farm-based internship at Homestead Organics Farm offered to 8 Bitterroot Valley high school students throughout the summer of 2016. Interns plant, tend and harvest over 200 lbs of fresh, local, organic produce each week and donate to the Ravalli County Council on Aging Meals on Wheels program. Growing food will be the connection point between the younger generation and elders in our community, making this a true cross-generational collaboration. Students experience hands-on learning with many practical topics, including organic agriculture, animal husbandry and sustainable living practices. Each week, community members and professionals share presentations and host on-site tours to foster connection and growth. Weekly workshop subjects include youth leadership, economic empowerment, financial intelligence, civic engagement and real world job skills.

Girls Using Their Strengths (GUTS!) is a unique, community-based leadership and empowerment program designed by and for young women, ages 9 to 18. GUTS! encourages young women to explore their own personal values and discover their strengths through wilderness adventures in the summer, as well as after-school groups and community service projects during the academic year. The GUTS! team visited Homestead Organics Farm and the Cultivating Connections interns for a day of team building through harvesting garlic for Meals on Wheels recipients. Community building at its finest! Cultivating Connections is a farm-based internship at Homestead Organics Farm offered to 8 Bitterroot Valley high school students throughout the summer of 2016. Interns plant, tend and harvest over 200 lbs of fresh, local, organic produce each week and donate to the Ravalli County Council on Aging Meals on Wheels program. Growing food is the connection point between the younger generation and elders in our community, making this a true cross-generational collaboration. Students experience hands-on learning with many practical topics, including organic agriculture, animal husbandry and sustainable living practices. Each week, community members and professionals share presentations and host on-site tours to foster connection and growth. Weekly workshop subjects include youth leadership, economic empowerment, financial intelligence, civic engagement and real world job skills.

Cultivating Connections