Cooking up something good: Youth Garden Project fires up its pizza oven

The Youth Garden Project will host its first YGPizza Night on July 9 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to support the organization’s year-round, garden-based youth education programming. The event will be held at the garden: 530 South 400 East, which can be accessed from the Mill Creek Bike Path or from Grand County High School.

“We were just looking for something that would be great for busy families to enjoy an affordable, garden-fresh, healthy meal option that’s more relaxed and for kids,” said Sarah Bowen, YGP’s produce manager.

YGP is an organic garden located in the heart of Moab dedicated to cultivating healthy foods, relationships, kids and community through educational programs, connecting people from seed to table.

YGP staff and volunteers use fresh ingredients from the garden to prepare delicious pizzas for all attendees, fire-roasted in the cob oven. YGP will also provide dairy-free and vegan options, with every pie $10 each. Visitors are welcome to enjoy their pizzas in the garden or take their pizzas to go. Options for toppings will change throughout the summer as different plants become ripe for the picking.

“When people get off work, they can swing by, grab a pizza, and wander around our veggies and hang out with our chickens and vegetables,” said Bowen. Seasonal fruit lemonade and sweet treats — made from sour cherries and apricots this week — will also be available with the pizzas throughout the summer.

YGP will also host a Weed ‘n’ Feed event on July 7 and July 21 from 6 to 8 p.m., where community members can help with the organization’s on-site projects in exchange for a healthy dinner from the garden. Also on the schedule is a garden dinner with guest chef Brian Seward on July 24.

For Bowen, YGPizza is an opportunity for Moab community members to consider where their food comes from.

“It’s so important to be connected to the food. You can walk around the garden and see the basil patch from which your pizza’s pesto was made,” said Bowen. “You can really take an active role in your food.

Event Info:

What: YGPizza Night

When: Friday, July 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Youth Garden Project (530 S. 400 East, Moab)