Growing Together: Youth-Led Agriculture Education at Big River High Greenhouse

We are Preston Sam and Collin Snowboy, local youth from Chisasibi and proud members of the Agriculture Team at the Chisasibi Eeyou Resource and Research Institute (CERRI). As part of our commitment to supporting local food sovereignty and reconnecting with the land, we’ve taken on the exciting role of leading the development of the Big River High Greenhouse—and recently, we’ve begun something we’re really proud of: teaching students.

Preston Sam Preparing for a Short Lecture and Demonstrating Soil Preparation for the Students

Over the past few weeks, we’ve launched hands-on classroom activities at the high school focused on Soil Preparation and Seeding—giving students a chance to learn how food is grown, right from the ground up. 

Each pot holds a different plant, carefully seeded by students

During our Soil Preparation Activity, we explored the importance of soil health and demonstrated how to properly mix potting soil for seedlings. We also introduced students to the lasagna method, a layered approach to building nutrient-rich outdoor grow beds using logs, woodchips, cardboard, manure, and soil. It was great to see how curious and engaged everyone was while learning about what makes soil come alive.

In our Seeding Activity, we focused on what seeds need to grow—sunlight, warmth, water, and care. We showed students three different methods of seed germination, and emphasized the importance of understanding what you’re planting. We explored key details like plant name and variety, days to germination, planting depth, and spacing. Learning this kind of information helps create confidence in growing, and gives students a better understanding of the life cycle of their plants. 

Seeding Activity with Lauren's Classroom

At the end of each class, we gave students a glimpse into the future—showing them what their plants might look like in a few months by sharing examples of what we’ve already grown in the greenhouse. Many of them lit up with excitement, already imagining the journey from seed to harvest.

For us, this work is more than just about growing food—it’s about growing a movement. It’s about passing on knowledge, inspiring confidence, and helping our peers connect with the land in meaningful ways. As young people ourselves, it feels powerful to be part of something that brings learning, wellness, and community together.

This is only the beginning. We’re excited to keep growing with the students and can’t wait to see what sprouts next.

-Preston Sam