Conceived as an employment and internship initiative, the S.H.O.W (Seasonal Horticultural Outdoor Worker) Program is designed to engage  youth aged 18-30 in meaningful work growing food throughout the Thunder Bay area.  We work with a variety of partners to identify youth who face barriers to employment and employees' wages are subsidized or provided to participants in full within this internship program. 

Interns receive general employment training skills throughout the 5 month period in an effort to develop important long term employability skills within the larger workforce. 

The crew is responsible for developing and maintaining the Roots to Harvest Urban Farm located at Lillie St. Over the course of the work term staff learn the agricultural skills necessary to care for, transplant and harvest the plants as well as how to market the produce from the site, selling it through local markets, restaurants, and through direct marketing opportunities. 

Training:
Interns receive First Aid and Safe Food Handling certifications over the course of the program. In addition, workshops and seminars are provided by Roots to Harvest facilitators, community speakers and other employment agencies to help reinforce positive work ethics, goal setting,  financial literacy, work place safety, communication and other important job skills. 

Placements:
In addition to the agricultural training, interns will participate in field days at local area farms  to develop a broader skill set by conducting a wide variety of tasks alongside experienced farmers. Interns will also be paired with local food businesses according to their interests and will do a paid placement with these businesses on a weekly basis.