By: Pamela Honey
Ambreal’s Journey with Teens for Food Justice: A Student’s Perspective
Ambreal, a 17-year-old student, began her experience with Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) as a chance encounter. When she joined the program in her freshman year, she was new to the Far Rockaway Educational Campus—and the country. “I was just trying to find something to do after school that wasn’t being on my phone,” she recalls. Curious, she wandered into the hydroponic farm, where she met Christine Mastorides, the farmer-educator in charge, who encouraged her to give it a try. Although Ambreal didn’t expect to enjoy it at first, she soon found herself immersed in the program and dedicated even more time to it during her sophomore year.
Discovering New Perspectives on Food
The farm became a place of discovery for Ambreal. “Before I came here, I didn’t really like vegetables. I hated tomatoes and most veggies,” she admits. However, the hands-on experience of growing and experimenting with produce changed her outlook. “We started trying different things with vegetables I used to hate, and I ended up loving them.” She began incorporating these foods into her diet outside of school—a testament to how TFFJ reshaped her relationship with food.
“We started trying different things with vegetables I used to hate, and I ended up loving them.”
A Standout Moment: The Hydroponics Giveaway
When asked about a highlight from her time at TFFJ, Ambreal enthusiastically pointed to the Hydroponics Giveaway. In this hands-on project, students build and take home mini hydroponic systems made from recycled bottles. This initiative empowers students to apply what they’ve learned on the farm in their own homes and share sustainable farming practices with their families, making food justice education a part of everyday life. “It was one of the biggest projects we’ve done, and it made me feel really connected with other students,” she shares. Even outside the after-school space, classmates would ask her about the next giveaway. “It’s just really fun.”
From Traditional Farming to Hydroponics
Ambreal’s time at TFFJ also changed her perception of farming. Growing up, she had helped her uncle on a farm, an experience she found grueling. “I hated it because it was so hard for me,” she explains. But TFFJ introduced her to the possibilities of hydroponics, where farming didn’t have to be physically taxing. “If you know what you’re doing and actually understand the joy in it, it doesn’t have to be as hard as people make it out to be.”
Through the program, Ambreal also gained a deeper appreciation for nutrition and sustainable farming practices. “I didn’t know you could grow plants like this,” she says. Learning about microgreens was particularly eye-opening. “I had no idea the smaller the plant, the more nutritious it is.”
Spreading the Word and Inspiring Others
Ambreal’s enthusiasm for TFFJ doesn’t stop at the farm. She loves sharing what she’s learned with friends, even if it sometimes earns her teasing. “I always brag about the farm. I tell my friends, ‘You should eat this—it’s more nutritious!’ They think I’m so annoying,” she says with a laugh.
She also envisions herself continuing with hydroponics as a personal project in the future. “I love this so much. Once I get a house, I want to build a hydroponic farm in my basement,” she says. While she sees it as a hobby rather than a career, she firmly believes in the importance of green jobs and sustainable farming. “If there were more green jobs and opportunities for clean vegetables, maybe prices wouldn’t be so high, and people could have more access to healthy food.”
“If there were more green jobs and opportunities for clean vegetables, maybe prices wouldn’t be so high, and people could have more access to healthy food.”
Understanding and Advocating for Food Justice
For Ambreal, food justice means ensuring everyone has access to nutritious, chemical-free food. She sees TFFJ as playing a critical role in bridging the gap between food accessibility and education. “Having a space like this, where students can learn how to grow and access fresh food, is so important,” she says.
The program has also helped her develop professional skills and confidence. “Aside from farming, I’ve learned how to work professionally—how to address coworkers and handle responsibilities. That was a really helpful lesson.”
Encouraging Others to Join the Movement
When asked what she’d say to students considering joining TFFJ, Ambreal doesn’t hesitate. “I’d tell them to come here to learn about the nutritional value of food and how to grow it. It’s also a great way to learn about food justice and how to make healthy, accessible food available for everyone.”
“I’d tell them to come here to learn about the nutritional value of food and how to grow it. It’s also a great way to learn about food justice and how to make healthy, accessible food available for everyone.”
Ambreal’s story showcases how TFFJ empowers students to grow beyond their expectations. By providing hands-on education in sustainable farming and advocating for food justice, TFFJ helps students like Ambreal develop practical skills, discover new passions, and connect with their communities. As Ambreal puts it, “Programs like TFFJ are so important because they teach students how to grow their own food and provide fresh, healthy produce to communities that need it.”
“Programs like TFFJ are so important because they teach students how to grow their own food and provide fresh, healthy produce to communities that need it.”
Her journey reminds us that youth can drive the change needed to build a more equitable food system, one plant—and one lesson—at a time.❦
Pamela Honey is the Communications & Content Coordinator at Teens For Food Justice.
