Good Journey is a community and youth leadership development project organization working with youth and families to improve our communities together.
Bustani Ya Upenda, started in 2020, is our urban youth community garden initiated and built by Good Journey youth, families, staff and volunteers. Bustani grows 1,000 pounds of produce annually that is given to youth and community members. Some of the produce is used in Bustani to teach youth and community members how to prepare health meals using the outdoor kitchen built in Bustani in 2023.
Bustani also has a zen space with a fountain, Shona sculpture, and fruit trees, built in 2022 for our community elders to have a space to come relax and enjoy nature.
Bustani is often used for Good Journey programs and community events. Bustani was the sight for Good Journey’s 7 week long Summer Leadership Academy, has hosted STEM programs, and events for Kwanzaa, Black History Month, Freedom to Read, Juneteenth, National Night Out, and Halloween.
More than 30 vegetables, 10 types of fruit trees and bushes, and many herbs and flowers are grown in Bustani. Youth and community members are learning to grow produce, prepare meals with the produce, and start their own home gardens. We serve more than 100 people in Bustani Ya Upenda annually, and more than 400 youth annually through other Good Journey leadership programs.
With the completion of construction of the Good Journey Agriculture Learning Center & Community Pantry in 2025 we will be able operate year round in Bustani. With the Good Journey agriculture curriculum and learning center, this will allow Good Journey to double the number of people impacted through Bustani lessons and produce grown.