Seeds

Ecoschool: in 2022, Seeds provided over 63,000 student-contact hours of academic and cultural enrichment activities at 11 partner schools in rural northwest Michigan serving over 600 unique students. With a focus on place-based learning in safe and inspiring social-emotional-learning spaces, Seeds programs prioritize hands-on and outdoor activities that develop leadership, life skills, and resilience and include daily academic enrichment, stem subjects, nutrition and culinary arts instruction, arts and culture, and whole-family activities. Students are predominantly from underserved communities with high rates of poverty.

Ecostrategies: Seeds continues a tradition of offering professional analysis, assistance with 'green goals', and planning for resource management to units of local government and a variety of other community institutions. In 2022, Seeds continued serving as green team facilitator to the city of traverse city, provided over 120 hours of technical adult education, and continued movement building to divert 33% of organic wastes from landfills across nw mi, preserving carbon and investing in circular economies.

Ecocorps: in 2022, Seeds employed 28 members who earned 1,750 hours of professional development and also improved 46 miles of trail, enhanced 178 acres in 19 parks, delivered over 5,400 pounds of donated produce, and composted over one ton of food waste. Crew members in this green collar career exploration program serve their community while gaining valuable work experience, skills training, professional development, and leadership. Their experiences include historic preservation, parkland management, sustainable trail design, habitat restoration, reforestation, small-scale agriculture, light construction, and more.