Young people. Real pathways.
Young adults learning hands-on inside modern aquaponics and hydroponics spaces — with mentorship, STEM exposure, and workforce readiness at the center.
Vermont rooted · Youth centered · Future focused
Growing skills.
Growing futures.
Connecting foster and at-risk youth with meaningful early-career pathways — while cultivating sustainable food systems and stronger communities.
01 / PEOPLE02 / FOOD03 / COMMUNITY
OUR NORTH STAREarly-career opportunity for young adults✳Year-round local food access✳Regenerative thinking
The Foster & Grow model
One ecosystem.
More ways to thrive.
Workforce development is the center of our vision. Sustainable agriculture is the classroom; community food stability and environmental stewardship are the shared outcomes.
Our programs are being developed in phases. This website illustrates what we're working toward, not a completed campus or operating apprenticeship.
Fresh food, closer to home.
Indoor growing, aquaponics, and an integrated campus vision for year-round food access, learning, and community connection.
Build a more resilient Vermont.
Practical job skills, teamwork, and food-system innovation that strengthen both the individual and the community.
Featured initiative · In development
Seed to Stability
A growing vision for paid apprenticeships, agricultural innovation, applied STEM learning and career exploration for foster and at-risk youth.
01LearnAgriculture, food systems and STEM
02PracticeHands-on learning and mentorship
03LaunchEarly-career readiness and pathways
A circular food system
How aquaponics
can work.
Aquaponics combines fish and plants in a recirculating water system. The system can support environmental education while reducing the need for constant fresh-water inputs compared with once-through designs.
Conceptual illustration of a recirculating aquaponics system.
Conceptual illustration of learning pathways in aquaponics.
Long-term possibilities
Imagine a place where
community takes root.
Our phased vision brings learning, growing, gathering, and opportunity together. This is a conceptual arrangement, not an approved property layout or construction plan.
Concept image only. This is a vision sketch, not an existing facility or approved development plan.
Our connected priorities
Beyond the greenhouse.
01
Youth workforce development
Apprenticeships, mentoring, career exposure and confidence-building.
02Food security
Year-round growing potential and community food access.
03Energy efficiency
Practical learning about resource-smart operations and sustainability.
04Holistic wellness
Belonging, healthy food, stability and supportive community connections.
Envision the possibilities
One campus. Many pathways.
Imagine a place where young adults learn, earn, connect with mentors, explore STEM professions, and help grow nutritious food for their communities. These AI-generated concept scenes portray our long-term vision, not existing operations or current program participants.
Hands-on apprenticeships
Paid learning, mentorship, and practical growing skills
STEM and technology
Digital systems, applied science, and career discovery
Classrooms and learning labs
Instruction, collaboration, and workplace preparation
Community farm stand
Local food access and entrepreneurial experience
Indoor food production
Year-round growing with resource-conscious systems
Job shadowing and STEM careers
Exposure to pathways beyond agriculture
All scenes above are AI-generated illustrations of proposed activities; they do not depict current Foster & Grow facilities, apprentices, or events.
Growing through community connections
Part of a wider ecosystem.
We learn, participate, and build organizational capacity alongside Vermont and national networks. Membership, grant support, scholarships, and conference participation are identified separately below.
Liberation Ecosystem · Common Good Vermont · NOFA-VT · Vermont Environmental Justice Network · AfroTech Insiders
Vermont Community Foundation · New England Grassroots Environment Fund · AfroTech scholarship · Vermont Council on Rural Development summit scholarship
NOFA-VT Farm Beginnings 2026–2027 cohort · AfroTech Conference · Vermont Community Leadership Summit 2026 · Rural Nonprofit Leader Summit
These connections do not necessarily imply formal organizational partnerships, endorsements, or active joint programs. Specific awards and roles will be confirmed on the Impact page.
Help this vision grow
Opportunity is something
we cultivate together.
Join us as we build the foundation for youth-centered workforce development and sustainable food systems in Vermont.
Get involved ↗Start a conversation ↗