Teen Entrepreneurs Grow Grand Ideas

Zuiryliz Osorio put on some lip gloss for a crowd Wednesday night in a Fair Haven greenhouse— lip gloss she grew herself on the premises.

Osorio was one of the students from the Growing Entrepreneurs program at the Land Trust presenting ​“social enterprise ideas” — homegrown green business concepts — for community feedback Wednesday night.

The event, capping months of work, took place at the Grand Acres community garden at Perkins Street and Grand Avenue.

This was the third annual Growing Entrepreneurs ideas fair since it was revamped into a year-long program. (Read about past events here, here and here.) The Growing Entrepreneurs also runs a five- week summer program. Currently there are 12 students participating; Land Trust Garden Education Coordinator Esther Rose-Wilen said she expects to have a total of 20 students by February.

The kids had three months to learn skills in carpentry and gardening before beginning their product preparations. They created a diagram with aspects of their own identity, worked with the Land Trust, and developed entrepreneurial aspirations. ​“From there they had to examine where it intersected and narrow in on a business idea,” Rose-Wilen said.

Through the projects, Rose-Wilen said, ​“the students are learning great professional and life skills while getting to express individual creativity”

There was only one rule: The projects had to be related to agriculture, or use an ingredient grown in the greenhouse. Rose-Wilen said some past students have kept their business going. ​“It’s up to them how far they want to run with their ideas. If they want to continue, we help them with regulations and marketing.”

Osorio promoted her project, called Glossy Featurez, by explaining her business model, talking about the natural ingredients, and offering free samples. ​“I’ve been into makeup since I was six, and this was an awesome opportunity for me,” she said.

Osorio said she wanted to use all natural ingredients she grew herself because other companies use chemicals that make the lip gloss dry out people’s skin or test their products on animals. She tapped essential oils, coconut oil, as well as chamomile and blue cornflower that were grown in the Grand Acres greenhouse. The oils came from Elm City Market; she got the gloss base off Amazon.

When Osorio started at High School in the Community, she said, ​“everyone was talking about the Growing Entrepreneurs program, and then my principal encouraged me to apply and said it would be perfect for me because I love to garden.”

Using the entrepreneurial skills learned from the Growing Entrepreneurs, Osorio plans to open her own hair salon in the future, in New Haven. ​“Lots of hair salons in New Haven are very pricey, every time my mom goes it costs 50 dollars!” she noted. Osorio said she plans to sell her own natural products, including the lip gloss. 

Sharric James and Juan Marroquin created a business plan to build compost bins and raised planting beds.

James, a student at Co-op High School, has worked with the organization for over a year. James and Marroquin have been researching and planning their business since May. ​“The process of using decomposing materials to make soil richer is really cool,” James said.

James said Connecticut throws away 520,000 tons of food a year: ​“That food waste is burned and goes into the atmosphere while only 3.9 percent is composted.” Members of James’ family has asthma; he said he was inspired to help the environment and public health through composting.

Anaja Stevenson presented a homemade candle business. Stevenson used chamomile and blue cornflower, both of which were grown in the greenhouse, for scent and aesthetic. Stevenson goes to the Sound School and has been in the program since January.

Stevenson has been selling his candles at local farmers markets, and said he hopes to get his product into stores. At farmers markets, the smaller candles cost $3 and the larger ones $10.

Giselle Cando and Devonte Mcelveen originally planned to sell body lotion and soap scrub. When they found both projects were ​“too complicated” to make, they joined forces to create their own soap product. 

The team has sold essential oil and chamomile infused soaps for $5 each. ​“Soap is an essential, and we wanted to make something everyone needs,” said Cando.

Mayoral candidate and former New Haven Land Trust Executive Director Justin Elicker stopped by the event, asking questions and giving feedback on product costs. He said the candle product was his favorite; he especially liked the cinnamon scented one. ​“It is important for students to showcase their work and this event gives them an opportunity to practice selling their product,” he said.

“I’ve heard over and over again that there needs to be more after school and summer programs, and also more job training and opportunities. The spirit of Growing Entrepreneurs is so important as it accomplishes both.”