News & Updates

Announcing our new Executive Director… our very own Clara Metzler!
The Project GROWS Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Clara Metzler will be promoted to the role of Executive Director as of March 16th. Clara's transition is the result of Project GROWS' long-standing dedication to cultivating superb, mission-driven...

2022 Market Musings: Little things that made a big difference for our inaugural year of Project GROWS Mobile
STAFF NOTE: This week we said farewell to our beloved Market Manager Georgia! Georgia knew how to create a welcoming and upbeat environment for all of our market locations. The care she took with each customer and the compassion she showed for the community helped...

Diving Deeper into Farming for a Second Year: Reflections from Assistant Crew Leader Rosie C.
By Rosie C., Assistant Crew Leader 2-22Graduate, Fort Defiance High School I’m Rosie, a recent graduate from FDHS and the YLA Crew Leader at Project GROWS this year. I heard about Project GROWS about seven years ago when I attended a homeschool field trip there. I...

Hard Work Pays Off: Reflections from Kiersten C., Youth Leader in Ag
By Kiersten C., Youth Leader in Agriculture, Summer 2022Graduate, Staunton High School As I finish up my last few days this summer at Project GROWS, I am called to look back on my time at the farm. I have been gardening since I was a kid with my grandparents, but I’ve...

From the Farm to the Medical Field: Reflections from Katie W., Youth Leader in Ag
By Katie W., Youth Leader in Agriculture, Summer 2022Graduate, Stuarts Draft High School My name is Katie and I am a recent graduate of Stuarts Draft High School. I will be attending Bridgewater College this fall to study Health and Exercise Sciences in hopes of...

An Incredible Time: Reflections from Bailey H., Youth Leader in Ag
By Bailey H., Youth Leader in Agriculture, Summer 2022Senior, Staunton High School My name is Bailey and I am a rising senior at Staunton High School. Whether I was riding horses, hiking, or kayaking, I have always loved nature and being outdoors. When I heard about...

Farm-Based Education at Project GROWS: Reflections from our Education Fellow
By Kenzie Ballard, Education Fellow 2022Masters in Agriculture, Food, and the Environment graduate student, Tufts University This summer, I was given the amazing opportunity to serve as Education Fellow at Project GROWS. Originally from Louisville, KY and studying in...

Social/Emotional Learning in YLA: Reflections from our Youth Development Specialist
By Jenna, Youth Development Specialist 2022Masters of Counseling graduate student, Eastern Mennonite University Small groups provide rich opportunities for us to gain a better understanding of who we currently are, who we want to be, and how we can bridge the gap...

Reflections from Rosey, Youth Leader in Agriculture
By Rosey F., Youth Leader in Agriculture Staunton High School, Class of 2022 Going back out into the world after the COVID-19 lockdowns was scary. Being pulled into a “new normal” was very hard for me, and I felt as if my life was turned upside down. The isolation...

Reflections from Abria: How I’ve GROWn
By Abria Brown, Social Work InternMary Baldwin University, Class of 2022 As my time as the social work intern at Project GROWS comes to an end, I have started to reflect on my time here and what it has meant to me. From harvesting popcorn with the students of...