The Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida is teaming up with local nonprofit Water Me Green to launch its new Springfield Project.
The project is designed to get more teens involved in the community and learn about sustainability. It will launch on Aug. 15 on Woodland Acres.
Paul Martinez, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida, and Tito Sosa of Water Me Green joined Monday’s First Coast Connect to talk about this collaborative project.
The Woodland Acres Club, which is owned and operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida, has a five acre plot of land where a local farmer preps and uses heavy farming machinery, while the kids handle the smaller, more manageable day-to-day activities.
According to the Water Me Green web site, aeroponic systems allow fruits and vegetables to grow with only a tenth of the water and space used by conventional farms and no use of herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic chemicals.
The produce will be harvested and then sold to local restaurant HobNob.
“We have children who are all eyes and ears and really love this process,” Martinez said. “If it works, we will be able to pay our teen members and any additional monies will go towards our program.”
Martinez believes by collaborating with Sosa, the project can be a success.
“Long term— with the success of the pilot program — we are going to be building a larger farm that is going to bring in more opportunities for the kids and the Boy’s and Girl Club, which I see as inspiring,” Sosa said.
Martinez, who was a member of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, said he likes the idea of kids in the program being exposed to local business leader.
“It makes a difference in your life,” Martinez said. “The children learn things and my goal is to let every parent in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas know about the Boy’s and Girl’s Club and become part of it.”
Watch the whole interview, courtesy of our partner TVJax.