TVF History
Tucson Village Farm is an education-based urban farm and healthy living hub that fosters life and leadership skills in young people through seed-to-table programming, outdoor adventure opportunities and community engagement. A 4-H youth development program of the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona’s Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension division, our vision is to cultivate h
ealthy lifestyles, resilience, and sustainability in young people, empowering them to be contributing members of their communities. We do this through year-round farm-to-table, urban agriculture, culinary literacy, outdoor adventure, and team-building programs for youth as well as a healthy Living 4-H club and numerous volunteer and instructional opportunities for teens.
In 2010, TVF Founders broke ground on a one acre parcel of land in front of the Pima County Cooperative Extension. Now known as “The Little Farm”, this working urban farm served as the heart of TVF-and our community- for over 12 years. From this urban oasis we served youth, families, schools, and community members from across Pima County and beyond. It was here that we first taught kids where their food comes from, how to grow, prepare, and eat it, along with simple strategies for preventing disease and making healthy life choices that will be with them for the rest of their lives. Just look at our, "before," picture above!
In June 2020, amidst a global pandemic, Tucson Village Farm (TVF) completed construction on the Angel Charity for Children Culinary Education Center, a commercially certified teaching kitchen in which thousands of youth each year learn to prepare healthy meals for themselves and their families. The kitchen sits on 8-fenced acres of arable farmland, the full extent of which was also entrusted to TVF.
The TVF Healthy Living C
enter has quickly transformed into a nexus of healthy living for youth of all ages. Complete with a high ropes course, a new composting facility in partnership with Compost Cats, indoor and outdoor classroom spaces, and the culinary education center, this healthy living campus provides the ideal setting for training youth in small-scale farming, culinary literacy, healthy habits, and life and leadership skills.
The “Little Farm” remains as active as ever with programming and camps for our younger farmers.