sponsored by Intel

The HomePlate garden project is designed to be a sustainable, urban, organic garden created in partnership with Intel and HomePlate.  The garden is planned and maintained by the youth of HomePlate with guidance and training from HomePlate staff and volunteers, Intel volunteers and external garden consultants.  The garden consists of four plots located in Hillsboro two at Calvary Lutheran and two at Sonrise Church.  The youth plan, care for and harvest the vegetable crop using organic gardening methods.  The fresh produce improves the food security and nutrition of the youth participants.

Through the project, HomePlate has hired several youth to take leadership and ownership of the garden project, giving them not only a stipend but job skills and experience that will help them in their search for permanent employment.  In addition, the project provides them with training in sustainable organic gardening practices, budgeting and organizational skills and basic computer instruction.  The training sessions are led by a garden consultant and volunteers from Intel.

The ultimate outcome of the program is to educate and empower youth, who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability, by giving them the opportunity to gain essential job skills and experience and the knowledge to make sustainable and healthy food choices.