Sweetie Pie Kids

Project Sweetie Pie takes youth from seeds to market

In January 2011, lifelong community organizer Michael Chaney, founder of the Twin Cities Juneteenth Festival and a member of the Afro Eco board, became inspired by what he considered an unfair attack on North High School.

“They were trying to close down North High, so Elizabeth Lasley from North High mentioned that they had been growing some starter plants in the school’s green room, and in conversations we said, ‘Well, why don’t we grow some sweet potatoes in the green room at North High?’” said Chaney.

Since North High is one of the only high schools in Minnesota that has a green room, Chaney knew that the students could show the community that there was still learning being done at the school by growing sweet potatoes there. Elizabeth Lasley, the leader of the Community Ed. after-school program at North High School, recognized and shared the same vision as Chaney did for the students to seize control of their own destinies.

“He instantly thought how the young people could step into the youth voice piece and carry the torch for themselves, stating that we are still vibrant in this building,” said Lasley. “There is still learning taking place here, and before you have this [rumor] that says North High School is closed, we’re going to take steps forward here and show the community that this school is still about learning.”

The prospect of the district closing North High School became the genesis of the idea to start the Project Sweetie Pie program, a year-round horticulture and entrepreneurial training program for youth and community members from North Minneapolis.

Project Sweetie Pie is an urban farm movement designed to promote healthy food and physical activity in urban areas, while promoting economic opportunity in the food distribution system. This summer, Project Sweetie Pie has already worked with 130 youth and many more community members planting and growing food.

Although the program is only in its first year, Project Sweetie Pie is growing at a very rapid pace, having the support of 45 community partners including Northway Community Trust and NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center. Project Sweetie Pie has seven urban garden sites in North Minneapolis where several youth groups are working and learning farming skills.

Robert Woods, a financial consultant for small businesses and development coordinator for Project Sweetie Pie, donated the garden plot at 1509 Freemont Ave. N., and he is also working with the Minnesota Jaguars youth group teaching farming.

Sweetie Pie Style: What I Wore: My New Nest of Posies Bag ...

Last weekend my husband and I took a quick little getaway to celebrate our anniversary.  We went back to where we were married: Wine & Roses in Lodi, Ca.  It is only a 40 minute drive and believe it or not, the Lodi area is like a mini Sonoma/Napa Valley.  It has well over 80 wineries! They are famous for their Zins, which I am not as big of a fan of, but I don't really discriminate when it comes to wine tasting.  Come one, come all is my motto!  Moral of the story, I actually got dressed and did my hair!  I swear I have been so busy with stuff around the house, the kitchen update, and general end-of summer-vacation activities that I have been living in jean shorts, t-shirts and pony tails. Nothing too fancy, I wanted to be comfy for lots of hours on my feet, but my new bag from Nest of Posies added a sweet dose of bling!  My dear friend Kellie makes the most adorable personalized bags, and when I saw a little hint of sequins on one of her instagram pics of a bag she made for herself, I told her I had to have a similar one too!  I let her do her thing, and this is what she came up with for me.  Don't you just love it? Let's talk for a minute about how roomy this tote is.  I put it to the test Saturday night when my husband and I decided to head down to the hotel pool after hours and smuggle in a bottle of wine we had purchased earlier in the day.  Renegades we are.  We stashed two towels, a bottle of wine and two wine glasses also wrapped in a towel in this bag, and there was still room for more stuff!  I now count this bag as my partner in crime.  Image the goodies I can smuggle in to the movie theaters.

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