A “green thumb” is what you get for working your hands in a garden; a “green top” is what you get when your brain joins in the work. The Green Tops are a group of teenagers from high schools in Pontiac who are learning business and leadership skills by planning and growing a garden and selling the produce. They are seeking teenage new members to join their group, and help build their business and be more successful in 2012.
The group, which runs all year, meets weekly at the Baldwin Center in Pontiac. During the colder season, the Green Tops learn how to run the garden financially, by creating a budget, setting goals, and taking field trips to local businesses. Michigan State University extension office and Oakland University both provide program guidance, education, and expertise to the group. Seeds and bulbs are planted during the winter in the hoop house, an indoor garden, and in the spring in 2 outdoor plots. By the time summer comes, the group is ready to oversee the whole project, harvest the produce, and sell it to local farmers’ markets on the weekends.
Najee Miles, a 17 year old senior at Pontiac Academy for Excellence, and the vice-president of the Green Tops shared that he learned a lot about finances and made good connections. “I personally want to be an inventor one day, so I have to know how to budget, how to take risks, make a plan, and try new things. This program lets me not only make a plan, but put it into action – to actually try out my ideas.”
The group’s adult coordinator Kelly Michaud thinks it’s a great opportunity for students considering college, job placement, or both after graduation, because of the direct work experience. “Teens don’t usually like to garden, but this is a lot more than just a garden. It’s about community and meeting new people, learning leadership and communication skills, and getting hands-on work experience. This direct experience is crucial in today’s business world.”
The Green Tops are online (www.facebook.com/greentops) and in the community. Call (248.332.6101), click, or email (kmichaud@baldwincenter.org) to find out more.
