After graduating from EarthDance’s Farm & Garden Apprenticeship, Jake went on to spend two seasons apprenticing at Seeds of Hope Farm in Spanish Lake, MO, which is part of the non-profit Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. In 2017, Jake moved into the position of farm manager, where he manages production for a 45 member tiered CSA program. This sliding-scale Community Supported Agriculture program increases access to fresh food for families in the Spanish Lake area, a severe food desert. Families pay between $10-$28 dollars per week for their share of produce. Seeds of Hope Farm is (non-certified) organic, utilizing low-till and intensive cropping methods to produce 12,000 pounds of food per season, everything from strawberries and blackberries to squash, kale and garlic. Programming offered by Seeds of Hope includes a 6-month teen farming program, monthly community farm dinners, and a paid apprenticeship program. Jake first visited Seeds of Hope as an apprentice at EarthDance. He says, “I’m very thankful for the EarthDance staff and program for giving me a rock solid foundation on which to start. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am with them!”