SECURE THE LAND, GROW THE FOOD, CREATE WEALTH…TOGETHER!




In 2015 the Sweet Potato Project partnered with three community gardens, one school and one church. We invited them to grow sweet potatoes that we purchased in the fall. Due to this effort, 1,500 lbs of sweet potatoes were grown, bought and are being used to make our sweet potato cookies and packaged meals for St. Louis University’s department of Nutrition & Dietetics.


In 2016 we are expanding this effort by inviting at least 25 partner gardeners to join our mission to increase food-based economic activity in North St. Louis. Reportedly, there are more than 8,000 vacant lots in the city of St. Louis.  We are reaching out to political and corporate leaders to help us make access to land easier, more affordable and “farm-ready” for collective members. Our goal is to build a cooperative designed to help our students, residents, churches and community organizations grow and bring food to market through a variety of avenues including: the Sweet Potato Project, educational institutions, farmer’s markets, coffee shops, restaurants and small grocers.
There is a larger vision at work here: Imagine whole city blocks with young people and residents owning land and urban farms. Think of the sense of pride and ownership when we create a North St. Louis brand of valued-added products sold locally, nationally and online.  Neighborhoods can be transformed with restaurants, bakeries, grocers and other housing and entertainment operations blossoming from this sustainable food-based effort.
Today, the Sweet Potato Project wants to build the foundation for this movement by helping “extraordinary ordinary” people in North St. Louis secure land, grow food, bring it market and start generating dollars where they live. We invite you to either become one of the 20 “partner gardeners” and/or help us launch a revolutionary food movement in North St. Louis.

In 2017 we plan to recruit at least 75 partner gardeners and create an official neighborhood collaborative where community residents are the majority board members. This way, low-income adults, our senior students and the community can sustain and determine the outcome of this powerful endeavor.
Today, the Sweet Potato Project wants to build the foundation for this movement by helping “extraordinary ordinary” people in North St. Louis secure land, grow food, bring it market and start generating dollars where they live. We invite you to either become one of the 20 “partner gardeners” and/or help us launch a revolutionary food movement in North St. Louis. 

Thanking you in advance, Sylvester Brown, Jr. / Executive Director/SPP

For more information, CLICK HERE 

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