Community gardens and farmer’s markets are first step in food security journey
CHICAGO-October 1, 2016
On Saturday, Oct. 1 the Chicago-based nonprofit organization, The Plant, held its first indoor farmer’s market of the season.
The Plant is a food production and energy conservation organization that operates in a circular food economy. It is located in Back of the Yards, one of Chicago’s economically distressed neighborhoods. The Plant holds monthly farmer’s markets that employ residents of the neighborhood to grow and sell fresh produce.
Community gardens and farmer’s markets help improve access to healthy food, but most experts agree they are not the only step to increasing food security.
“I don’t believe community gardens contribute much to food access, but they certainly do build community and highlight the need for fresh food,” said cultural anthropologist Dr. Howard Rosing. Rosing is the Executive Director of DePaul University’s Steans Center for Community-based Service Learning and Community Service Studies.
His research focus is in urban food access, community food systems and food justice movements. Research in Health and Place shows the accuracy of Rosing’s statement because according to their study, “Gardens in low-income neighborhoods (46%) were four times as likely as non low-income gardens to lead to other issues in the neighborhood being addressed; reportedly due to organizing facilitated through the community gardens.”
Rosie Fitz, the Operations Manager of Logan Square Farmer’s Market in Chicago, also believes that simply implementing urban gardens are “great, but not enough,” in low-income areas. She believes that organizations should continue to work with the community in educating them how to grow and cook food as well.
“Instead of relying on corporations to invest in these areas, it seems like urban farming is the only quick solution that will ensure immediate results,” said Fitz.
According to a study in Health and Place, those who participate in community gardens have a “greater consumption of fresh vegetables compared to non-gardeners, and lower consumption of sweet foods and drinks.”
Both Rosing and Fitz agreed that the intersection of multiple solutions would help increase food security.
“Urban agriculture helps economically distressed communities but it isn’t the full story. We should combine grocery stores, community gardens and local farms to increase food security,” said Rosing.
Fitz spoke of one of the main benefits of combining solutions to food security: “Shopping at farmer’s markets, participating in community-supported agriculture (CSA), and working in urban farms/gardens is great because it allows us to reconnect with the origins of food.”
According to a study in the Journal of Community Practice, community gardens were found to “enhance positive dietary habits, such as increased fruit and vegetable consumption and preference among participants, and increase social capital.”
Research in the American Journal of Public Health states that, “Community gardeners consumed fruits and vegetables 5.7 times per day, compared with home gardeners (4.6 times per day) and non-gardeners (3.9 times per day).
Community gardens and farmer’s markets have an effect on the food security of a neighborhood. Experts agree that they are a great first step to food security everywhere.
Charlene Haparimwi is a freelance writer for Hello Giggles, The Huffington Post, Seventeen Magazine, Alternative Press, Hooligan Mag, and Femsplain. You can find more of her work at charlenehaparimwi.contently.com and on her Twitter.
