We use Baldwin Center gardens as the tool to sell items at market, and thus learn the leadership and business skills we need to be successful. Pontiac Youth Urban Garden
We are Green Tops a Urban Garden out of the city of Pontiac. We consist mainly of teenagers from Pontiac Academy of Excellence, with the help of the Baldwin Center, MSU, Oakland University and the Kennedy Center, we have come a
long way in these short two years. We began with the Pontiac Urban Garden Explosion in 2009, which led to the Baldwin Center students creating Green Tops;a youth garden farm stand business in 2010. High School students from the Pontiac Community. With the help and Guidance from
BC Green Tops Youth Coordinator ------> Michael Napper'e
Oakland University Farm Expert --------> Fay Hansen
What is Green Tops Goal? Develop our leadership and entrepreneurial skills, by planning and building our Garden Farm Stand Business
Involve and engage in Pontiac and other Communities as we build and expand our business
Educate you and expand our learning, knowledge of: Urban community-based gardening and farming. How Does Green Tops Operate? From September through May we meet, plan and learn how to build our business and develop our entrepreneurial and leadership skills. From May - September meet and run Green Tops Farm Stand on weekends
Baldwin Center after school and summer kids and Kennedy Center students help plant and maintain garden
Coordinators and Green Tops plan, oversee, and manages the garden; harvesting and making ready produce for weekend sales. Produces comes from the Baldwin Center Gardens, Oakland University and local Farms who donate/support us with produce. What we've done and learned. Plan and design the Green Tops garden, learned effective/productive garden practices. How to maintain, harvest and prepare for market. Organized our business, roles and responsibilities, budgeting, expences, profits, and fiscal responsibilities. Oakland county farmers markets field trip
MSU exploration days - a real-life college experience at MSU in Lansing
Eastern Michigan University Entrepreneurial Conference
Local business field trips
Presented to Baldwin Center Board of Directors
Presented to PAE School Board
Holiday Wreath Project
Whats next? Build and grow our Farm Stand Business
Continue to connect with people, businesses in the community to further our goals and expand our Farm Stand
Find and schedule new Farmers Markets
Finalize our business model and mission
Long-term business planning
Marketing and promotions
Field Trips to local businesses
