This summer, Omemah Naimee took on two roles with Youth in Food Systems: Garden Leader and Market Leader. From growing and harvesting food to building a trellis with her garden team and interacting with customers at the Markets, she experienced different parts of the local food system firsthand.
Here, Omemah shares some of her favourite moments and what she learned along the way.
Finding My Place in the Garden
In the summer of 2026, I had the opportunity to be a part of YFS, Youth in Food Systems, and it became an experience that I will never forget! Over the summer, I spent my time enjoying different activities, working with people, and learning about food systems.
I was both a Garden and a Market Leader, but I think I enjoyed being a Garden Leader more since I spent most of my time there. I loved seeing new faces and working with people to make a difference! From planting the seeds to harvesting the fruits and veggies, I loved every part of it!!
Building Something Together
One of my best memories of the garden will be completing our Garden Improvement Project and hanging out with everyone in an amazing environment! For the improvement project, we all brainstormed different ideas and finally decided to build a trellis!
We had to think about where we wanted the trellis to be and make sure it was sturdy enough to last a while! It was a hands-on project, and I loved creating something with my group members instead of just talking about improving a part of the garden.
Seeing the trellis built was one of the moments where I could see the impact of our work. I never knew that a small, simple change could make the place look this good!
Seeing What Goes Into Our Food
Working in the garden also showed me how much hard work goes into growing fresh food! Before YFS, I mostly thought about the final product – the vegetables and fruits we eat.
Through this experience, I started thinking about all the steps that need to be done before that, such as preparing the garden, planting the seeds, caring for the plants, and working together!
Learning at the Markets
The markets were also an important part of the summer for me. It was a place where I got to learn so many new skills and see how our communities are connected! I learned how to manage prices for our produce, how to handle cash, and, most importantly, communication!
Being a Market Leader helped me become more comfortable talking to people and working as part of a team. Every market day was super different, and there was always something new to learn from them!
Looking Back
Looking back at my summer with YFS, I am really grateful for everything I got to learn. I made new memories, met new people, learned new skills, and got to be a part of something that made a difference in a community.
About Youth in Food Systems
Youth in Food Systems creates opportunities for young people in Waterloo Region to learn, lead and take action in their local food system through hands-on experiences.