3 minute read
COMMUNITY GARDENING FOR ALL AGES
COMMUNITY Gardening
FOR LIFE
BY CAROLINE A. FISHER, M.A.
Growing your own food is way to connect to the earth and be blessed by the bounty she gives. It reduces reliance on other sources by providing food (and good health) in your own back yard, or often, in a community setting where the public is invited to both garden and share the harvest.
In one part of Navajo country, nestled in northern Arizona near Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, Utah, the city of Page is not only a Native American oasis, it is simultaneously a food desert, meaning that a large group of people who live in the area do not have access to a supermarket or a large grocery store without traveling long distances. This obstacle means that many residents rely on convenience stores or a garden for their daily food source. But not everyone has the capability or environment for a bountiful garden.
Looking around their Page community, gardener Nancy Crosby and her husband saw the needs of their neighbors and a potential solution to the food desert situation they live in. Since there are no garden nurseries within 100 miles, a community garden seemed to be the best way help others learn about growing their own food. In 2017, the Crosbys decided to create a garden that engages not just adults, but children. That was the beginning of the community garden called “Seeds for Life” sponsored by the Page All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church. The garden was created when Nancy’s husband got permission to turn a parking lot into a greenhouse. Ever since, Nancy has been implementing various methods of gardening and working with the community to instill a love of growing and experiencing planting, gardening, and eating the fresh produce.
Gardening has been a key factor for many families across the United States to maintain health and food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gardening not only provides fresh, healthy food for you and your family, it is also a fun way to get exercise, fresh air, and enjoy being with your family or friends outside.
In Page, the Seeds for Life community garden has broccoli, cauliflower, kale, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, spinach, and beets, as well as a variety of herbs, including cilantro, basil, and parsley. It has strawberries
and raspberries, too. Nancy says, “We only charge customers a small fee for the produce.”
Nancy also practices sustainable gardening and teaches people how to be self-sufficient through Seeds for Life. Many Page locals buy plants from the community garden and many are given away to local residents to start their own gardens. Some who grow their produce then share it back to Nancy and her family! The garden is 100% donor supported.
In 2021, Nancy and a student majoring in biology created curriculum to help children become interested in, and participate in, basic gardening concepts to ensure healthy living. The program is called “Learn & Grow” and employs several ways for kids to interact with the garden, including reading about seeds and planting. The program is particularly suited for pre-school/kindergarten age children, who attend with their parents. The garden consists of raised beds and young ones will transplant plants into pots, get to use a shovel, and of course, receive seed packets to take home and plant in their own back yards. The "Learn & Grow" garden program begins in April 2022.
EFFECTS OF A FOOD DESERT
BENEFITS OF A GARDEN
The bad news: according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, a food desert can affect residents in the following ways: • Lack of Healthy Food Access: Poor nutrition can contribute to obesity, tooth decay, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, depression, and eating disorders. • Effect of Poverty: Poverty and food insecurity are associated with lower fruit and vegetable consumption, and lower-quality diets.
The good news! According to the Farmers’ Almanac, it is time to start planting outdoors for most produce (go to www.almanac. com/gardening to find your area’s planting calendar). This list is handy for any community garden, or even starting your very own backyard version. • Go to https://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/healthtopics/ healthyfood/community.htm to read about the benefits of gardening and how you can improve your health and get involved in your community!
