WALDOBORO — The Teen Agriculture Crew at Medomak Valley High School's Heirloom Seed Project is the small group of students — usually eight — who maintain the large gardens during the summer. Even though school is not in session, summer is the busiest season for tending the plants. The students have learned how to grow selected heirlooms and to collect and save the seeds which become the next generation of these diverse and hardy plants. While progressing through seed the saving process students also learn about self-sufficiency and food security. This is important awareness here in a state where one in four children is "food insecure" meaning that they don't always have sufficient food in their homes.

The MVHS seed saving program is the oldest school-based project of its kind in the United States. There are over 800 varieties in their seed bank and they receive communications from all over the world. The fundraiser currently under way is to provide students with summer employment tending the gardens. Workers will spend nine weeks in the school gardens producing food, saving seeds, preparing meals and taking field trips to other youth agriculture programs in the state and visiting Johnny's Selected Seed Company. Without the Teen Agriculture Crew, which sees the gardens through the most intense growing season, the Heirloom Seed Project would not be able to exist as it does today — a source of pride for not only students but for the whole community.

Generous financial help is needed to make sure the crew and their project are supported through the summer. The school, the Heirloom Seed Project, and especially the Teen Agriculture Crew will be very grateful for your support.

The scope of this project is far-reaching and beneficial way beyond the local area. Many more details can be found on this website: barnraiser.us/projects/mvhs-heirloom-seed-project-teen-agriculture-crew which explains details of the program and the fundraiser. If you will help out, click on "Fund This Project" to make a donation to this deserving group of young people.