Jill Dill's Food Literacy Project Fundraiser

When I joined the Food Literacy Project team in early 2022, we were just putting down roots at the Shawnee People’s Garden after leaving Iroquois Urban Farm, a place where the Food Literacy Project spent five meaningful and impactful years growing – literally and figuratively.

The Shawnee People’s Garden was an equally special place to me, as it is where I began my journey with the Food Literacy Project and learned that the Youth Community Agriculture Program is more than an after-school job for young people. Youth ages 16-21 are part of a paid farm crew, but also become part of the urban agriculture network in our city, learn about food systems and food justice, grow their leadership and communication skills, and learn to work as part of a cohesive team of young people on an urban farm. We were thrilled that many of the YCAP crew members who lived near the Shawnee People’s Garden were able to continue to work as part of the farm crew when we were required to move once again in early 2024 to a new farm location in southwest Louisville.  

As those who have followed along with the Food Literacy Project’s land journey know, finding a permanent home for our farm has been a goal for the past several years and a project that I am proud to be a part of as the organization’s Director of Advancement.  Now, after three moves, we have found the property we will make our Forever Home – but we need YOUR help to make this many-years-in-the-making dream come true. We are asking our loyal and newer supporters to do more than they ever have before to help us create a vibrant hub for urban agriculture – a 10-acre farm – where we will develop a youth-driven farm, community plots, an outdoor classroom, and community meeting space.

At our farm, young people experience the soil, sun, water, air, and work of farming, they gain life and leadership skills, access to fresh food, and the opportunity to shape a more just and sustainable community food system.  

Your support during Give for Good ensures that the Food Literacy Project will be able to build our Forever Home, impacting a generation of young farmers and their families for many years to come.

THANK YOU!