Tulsa Kiwanis Club Breaks Ground On New Greenhouse

Kids in North Tulsa will soon get the chance to learn how to farm and grow healthy food.

The new greenhouse will be run by YouthWorks Ranch kids in North Tulsa. They'll learn about hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics.

Scott Johnson lives at the ranch and says it's important to him to grow healthy food for his neighbors.

"We are just doing all of this to help all the North Tulsa kids and all the grown-ups, to help them have a healthier lifestyle," said Johnson.

The kids work in the main greenhouse now at the ranch, but soon, they'll have a greenhouse of their own to teach, learn, and work in.

"Have the kids grow tons of produce to go help their community, and our goal is, within three years, is to be able to help 10,000 families a week," said Chris Beach, the Executive Director of YouthWorks.

Beach hopes the kids of North Tulsa will learn agriculture skills, then turn around and use them to help future generations.

"We know that if we empower the kids of North Tulsa to learn trades and different skills, when they grow up, they can either use that as a career or how to take care of their own family," said Beach.

The Kiwanis Club is funding the project and they hope the kids will take away more than just learning to farm.

"If we're going to break the binds of poverty that are on these children, we've got to come up with ways to help these kids learn how to read, become self-sufficient, teach them skills, life skills, work skills," said Steve Collins, the Lieutenant Governor of the Kiwanis Clubs of Eastern Oklahoma.

Johnson says he's excited to get to work and to show the other kids all the things he's learned.

"Cause we get to work with all the kids, and make sure they know how to harvest, because some day they may be here in the big harvesting greenhouse," said Johnson.

The greenhouse is expected to be up and running in about two months.