Planting, weeding, watering and harvesting may not be anyone’s ideal way to spend the summer, but
the youth who work at the Inspired by Nature/Schooner Farms facility have done those tasks so well that they
have pleased their employer.Don Schooner, owner/operator of the facility, has nothing but praise for the
participants in the Summer Employment and Training program in Wood County. In fact, he was so happy with the
participants that he hired one of them permanently."They have been just stellar," he said.
"They are very, very good workers."The work program is made possible by the Wood County Department
of Job and Family Services and targets income-eligible 16- to 24-year-old persons in the county. The program
started May 15 and ends Aug. 31.Employers also had to apply to the program to have youth placed at their
facility. Schooner said this program fits his needs well, and he has not regretted signing up to
participate, especially since the youths’ wages are paid by the program.Having the youth helping him during
the summer has helped him to keep his costs down.As a Community Support Agriculture facility, Schooner has
40 members who will come to him for their produce.These youth has helped him to maintain the 35 varieties of
vegetables he plants along with the blackberries, strawberries and raspberries, herbs for medicinal purposes
and kitchen use, and the three ponds at the facility. He said the public can fish in the ponds, for a fee,
for tilapia, trout and perch.He uses no pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, or any other chemicals on his
crops, so the youth have been helpful with planting, weeding, reaping, and any other chores that Schooner
needs to be done.About 30 persons have been enrolled in the program throughout the summer at various 11
locations in Wood County.They have gained work experience as well as information on whether the job they are
doing is one they’d like for a career.For more information, call (419) 353-7407 or (419) 334-8911.