Youth gardening education program kicks off at Johnnie Mae Farm | Local

The smell of banana oat cookies, savory herb popcorn, and tomato and herb bruschetta wafted through the air as Mayor Sharon Tucker and other program leaders celebrated the Plant, Pick & Plate program Friday.

The celebration marked the start of the free initiative designed to combat childhood obesity and instill environmental consciousness at Johnnie Mae Farm.

Some of the fifth through ninth graders enrolled in the program helped cook dishes using fresh produce grown at the farm at 2518 Winter St.

“(Today is) a celebration of partnerships, purpose and the power of investing in our youth and our neighborhoods,” said Andrea Robinson, Fort Wayne economic development administrator.

The program is meant to teach youth about urban farming, environmental stewardship and healthy eating habits while building confidence in the kitchen, Robinson said.

Tucker said she was “speechless” after finding out the city’s vision for the program would be able to come to life.

“We have been doing all the things that we could possibly do to give access to food, and specifically healthy food on the southeast side,” Tucker said.

Plant, Pick & Plate will give the youth involved access to gardening classes, cooking instruction and 4-H programming. Also, participants will receive recipe booklets, cooking kits and gift cards for the Pontiac Street Market to help them cook at home.

Kamiya Williams-Hernandez, an eighth grader at Lakeside Middle School, said she is most excited to cook the food. At the event, Williams-Hernandez received her own jar of soil and sprouting cilantro. The food she grows through the program will be the first she’s ever planted.

James Wolff, Allen County Purdue Extension director, said program participants will have their own small, raised beds to grow produce and will help supply food sold at the stand. Their hands-on contribution to the farm will increase as they grow in understanding of how to garden, Wolff said.

Wolff said he hopes participants develop healthy habits that will last throughout their lives.

Cameron Ruhl, urban farm manager at Johnnie Mae, said food grown locally is more cost effective and provides a mental benefit along with health value.

“It is therapeutic to be outside and working in a garden,” Ruhl said. “It definitely calms your heart rate. And then, if you’re eating fresh produce half the year, that’s going to help out a lot, too.”

Robinson said about 60 kids have signed up for the program so far, and that leaders will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis. The program, which includes a monthly cooking class, will be one day a week, with the potential to expand.

The farm is a collaboration between Purdue Fort Wayne Extension and Inspired Nutrition. Each Friday from 2 to 6 p.m., the fire station turned farm stand hosts “Market Day,” where people can shop the produce grown behind the building.

The program was made possible by a $250,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Association for a Healthy America after winning the first place 2025 Childhood Obesity Prevention and Environmental Health and Sustainability Award for large cities.

“That’s what’s really exciting about this opportunity here,” Wolff said, “to continue that education and bring education to the people where they are, right here with hands-on activities.”