LocalShops1 Provides $10,000 Donation to St Pete Youth Farm to Expand Community-Wide Compost Center
LocalShops1 is helping make a bigger impact with an additional $10,000 donation to the St. Pete Youth Farm to expand their community-wide compost center. The compost center was started in 2024 with the help of a $10,000 donation from LocalShops1. St. Pete Youth Farm is using the 2025 donation of $10,000 to purchase equipment to be able to do on-site demonstrations and composting at festivals and other events around town.
“This year’s donation will not only help get more people knowledgeable and interested in composting, but also help reduce food waste at the events,” said Ester Venouziou, LocalShops1 founder and Shopapalooza Festival organizer. The Shopapalooza Festival held in St. Pete is possibly one of the largest Small Business Saturday (and Sunday!) events in the nation.
“This year’s donation is pivotal to expanding our community compost initiative. We’re implementing food grinders in our sinks and working on harnessing gas from food waste to cook by installing a biodigester on the farm. These efforts provide a more efficient, regenerative system to process waste we receive, better fertilize the crops we grow, and create a quicker turnaround for finished compost to nourish our soil and share with our growing community composters.,” said Carla Bristol, director of the St. Pete Youth Farm.
St. Pete Youth Farm is a place where people can access locally grown produce, learn to grow their own food, and also provides programming to teens to promote youth development through leadership skills, entrepreneurship, urban agriculture and wellness. St. Pete Youth Farm employs kids ages 14 and up to help them develop a strong work ethic and sense of pride, in helping and also provides nutrition for their families, friends and neighbors.
