Community Gardens As a Solution to Food Insecurity

Alex Taylor SOC 348 Community Gardens as a Solution to Food Insecurity

Food and water can be considered the most basic of physiological needs for human survival. The World Health Organization considers access to food a universal human right. It doesn’t matter your age, race or gender identity, your political preference or religious affiliation, every human being should find security in knowing they’ll have an adequate and nutritious meal. Despite this consensus, nearly 793 million people are undernourished globally. Food insecurity is a massive problem that burdens almost every country across the world.

The definition of food security has evolved greatly since the World Food

Conference of 1974 recognized it as an international issue. At this time, the focus for food security was on volume and stability of food supplies and defined as the

“availability at all times of adequate world food supplies of basic foodstuffs to sustain a steady expansion of food consumption and to offset fluctuations in production and prices” (Chapter 2, 2003). By the 1980’s, this definition was expanded to consider vulnerable populations and not just physical, but also economic access to food supplies. The 1990’s brought a better understanding of nutritional requirements, food safety and cultural variances in diet. Essentially, the definition of food security went from being a broad concept, to a narrow, individual focused phenomenon. The United Nation’s Committee on World Food Security now recognizes food security as “the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (Chapter 2,

2003).

There are many things that pose a threat to the security of food in a place.

Factors include conflict, natural disasters, cultural and gender dynamics, urbanization, greater use of bioenergy, and changes in incomes, climatic patterns, food prices, and food production (Salaam, 2009). These contributors can be further broken down as products of either natural disaster, human-caused disasters, or the result of political instability. In this context, the issue of food insecurity becomes much more complicated to address than in 1974 when increasing volume and availability was thought to be the fix-all. Due to this, there has been great difficulty developing an intervention that can effectively address the root causes for the problem. The current strategy focuses mainly on reducing poverty, which is highly correlated with food insecurity.

The implications of food insecurity span broadly and are severe. One of the most common consequences of lacking access to healthy foods is nutrient deficiency. Malnourishment has been shown to cause stunted growth, cognitive impairment and neurological deficits in children. It is also responsible for about

45% of childhood deaths in the world (Children, 2016). In adults, the impacts can also be seen in the increased risk of developing obesity, diabetes, hypertension, as well as mental deficits (Martins, 2011). All of these have economic repercussions as the disease burden increases the spending on health care, decreases workplace productivity, and forces many people into financial ruts due to taking health-related time off and the inability to work. For these reasons, it is clear the perpetuating role that poverty plays in malnourishment and vice versa.

In 2017, food insecurity remains an issue affecting nearly every country in the world, showing no signs of eradication anytime soon. However, each country is experiencing insecurity at varying degrees. The places suffering the greatest burden of food insecurity are Sub-Saharan Africa, South and East Asia. Just these three places make up almost 90% of those suffering from undernourishment and hunger.

Not by coincidence, these parts of Africa and Asia have been the subject of great political instability, inefficient policies, exploitation, infrastructure inadequacy, and other natural barriers to security (Timmer, 2017). It is important to note that while these places are still greatly burdened by food insecurity, they have made progress over the last two decades and are slowly approaching the Millennium Development

Goal target.

The United States also has a share in this global crisis. In 2015, 12.7% of households were food-insecure (Coleman, 2017). Among these millions of people impacted, income was one of the most prominent indicators in experiencing hunger or undernourishment. A report conducted by the United States Department of

Agriculture outlined the demographics of those experiencing food insecurity at higher than the national average being: all households with children, particularly those with single-parents, adults living alone, minorities, and low-income households 185% below the poverty threshold (Coleman, 2017). These disparities are very concerning because access to good food is essential to success and health.

For children, minorities, and those who are already economically stressed, this can turn into a vicious cycle of chronic undernourishment and inability to reach financial security.

In the United States, there are currently federal and community-run programs to help address food insecurity. The three largest government run food assistance programs are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition

Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

SNAP, most commonly known as “Food Stamps”, provides a monthly allowance to eligible individuals to buy food items at authorized retailers. With nearly 15% of the U.S. population being food insecure, SNAP effectively reduces food-related hardship for more than 44 million people (Ratcliffe, 2011).

The National School Lunch Program provides nutritious, free or reduced-cost lunches in more than 96,000 public and private schools throughout the country. The program serves over 31 million children daily, and has been a significant and successful effort to improve child health and social equity in low-income families

(Bhatia, 2011). Despite the programs accomplishments, there is still a great deal of outreach to be done and stigma to eliminate and encourage participation.

WIC is utilized by almost 7.7 million low-income women during and after pregnancy, as well as infants and children up to age 5. The program offers nutrition education, supplemental food, and health care referrals. WIC is an especially important resource in a community because pregnancy through childhood is one of the most vulnerable times in human development. It is essential that mothers and young children have access to adequate food sources during this time. While most of these services have local branches, there are also many other resources available within the community to help combat food insecurity.

Community food banks and emergency kitchens are examples of facilities that provide meals and even groceries to low-income residents. In Bellingham,

Washington, the farmers market and Community Food Co-Op even have a program called “Fresh Bucks” that matches what is spent on produce using SNAP (Anon,

2012). This encourages the purchasing of fresh, organic, and healthy foods because they are half the normal price.

Another solution that is becoming more prevalent is community gardens.

Community gardens offer a financially and nutritionally feasible way to access fresh fruits and vegetables, enabling and empowering those who use them. They are versatile and can be implemented anywhere there is soil and sun, making it a viable option in both the city and rural areas, at schools, parks, or even empty lots. Aside from being a source of fresh food, the benefits of community gardens can also be seen through improvements in mental health, an enhanced sense of community, and the bridging of cultures.

Studies have shown community gardens to be an especially useful resource for minorities and refugees. The transition to life in the U.S. is often a very difficult one. People must adapt to a new culture with different foods available to them and deal with the isolation that comes with starting fresh in a new place. This adjustment usually requires a great financial investment, leaving as many as 86% of immigrants and refugees relying on some sort food subsidy (Hartwig, 2016).

Furthermore, it takes a mental toll on many. A major reason for choosing to come to the U.S. in the first place is to escape trauma or suffering, so it is very likely that many immigrants and refugees are coping with the stress of their past and current situation. Community gardens help to build support networks in the community, and even serve as a healing space for those facing depression and anxiety (Hartwig,

2016).

The benefits of community gardens can be experienced by anyone who participates. Studies have shown that gardeners eat as much as 1.4 times fruits and vegetables as non-gardeners (Hartwig, 2016). Furthermore, some gardeners opt to sell their produce through means such as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or food stands. This is an excellent and relatively low-cost way to bring in some extra money for those who need it. There is also the physical activity component of gardening, which encourages getting outside and engaging in the exercise required to maintain a garden (Jablonski, 2016).

The complexity in addressing food insecurity is reflected in the controversy over community gardens. There is so much variability in the factors that lead someone to be food insecure. While community gardens may be an excellent option for some, it is just not practical for others. Gardening requires time and skills in order to partake in the first place, and there are many people who are hindered by this. Then it becomes an issue of who maintains the garden if nobody has the time or skills to do it. This is a major issue many local governments must address because it is not practical to pay somebody to tend these if they aren’t being used and the land could be more profitable to sell to developers (Smith, 2003). In urban settings, the use of land is a particularly controversial component of community gardens. One of the biggest issues cities are facing is a lack of affordable housing. In Seattle, housing prices increased 12% in 2016 from 2015, making it even more difficult for those already living in poverty to survive in the city (Kelman,

2016). While the vacant lots being used for gardens provide immense benefits to those living in the city, they won’t continue to be that way if there are no affordable places for gardeners to live.

While community gardens definitely provide an affective solution to food insecurity, there are still many lenses to be considered. It is not simply an issue of not eating your fruits and vegetables, but is complexly interwoven with poverty, politics, and laws that hinder people from accessing the fresh foods they need for good health. Voices

Oun Yeav

Oun Yeav came to Seattle in 1986 as a refugee from Cambodia following the rule of Khmer Rouge and war with Vietnam. By this time she was in her mid 30’s, but had spent the majority of her life surrounded by violence, famine, and death.

Oun, her husband and daughter originally lived in Battambang City, but fled to

Thailand shortly after the war began. Oun’s husband passed away shortly after arrival in Thailand, leaving her and their daughter with nothing but the clothes they wore. They had gone a month without food and were severely emaciated when the

Red Cross came to their aid, sending them to a refugee camp. Eventually they ended up in Seattle.

When Oun arrived in Seattle, she knew very little English and struggled to adapt to a drastically different way of life. She found a job cleaning offices, but still had difficulties with finances, let alone making connections within the community.

In 2000, Oun began volunteering at the High Point P-Patch in her West

Seattle neighborhood. She had come from a farming community in Cambodia and sought to bring some of those skills back into her new life. Through her passion for gardening, Oun was able to find the connection with her community that she’d been missing.

It has now been more than 17 years since Oun first got involved at the High

Point P-Patch. Over the years, Oun noticed improvements in her physical health from having access to her traditional foods and other fresh fruits and vegetables.

Also during this time, she saw the garden transform into a place for many

Cambodian neighbors to congregate, eat, and share their common interests. In fact, many of the residents of the High Point neighborhood were either low-income, refugees, or immigrants. Like Oun when she first arrived in Seattle, many faced financial and cultural barriers to connecting with their community and receiving adequate nutrition, but the garden bridged those gaps.

Besides being an active gardener at the High Point P-Patch, Oun also helped to establish a weekly farm stand on the premise. Through this market, Oun and other gardeners contribute some of their produce to be sold, for which they earn a small profit from. The farm stand accepts EBT and even those who don’t garden in the community can purchase the fresh foods Oun and others produce. In the past, she has also contributed to the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

This gave Oun another source of income from her work in the garden. 1,2,3

1 Read, Sam. 2017. “Building Community Through Gardening.” Front Porch. Retrieved May 20, 2017.

2 Anon. 2017. “High Point Juneau Community Garden and Market Garden.” Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Retrieved May 20, 2017.

3 Chan, Sucheng. 2015. “Cambodians in the United States: Refugees, Immigrants, American Ethnic Minority.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. Retrieved May 21, 2017. Dave Rubens Jr.:

Dave Rubens Jr. was born and raised in West Seattle. In the last 20 years he moved to Bremerton due to the increased rent prices in his home neighborhood of

Ballard. He still works in Seattle for Beacon Development Group as a Senior Housing

Developer specializing in affordable-housing. As a housing developer, he conducts site feasibility, drafts funding applications, creates development and operating budgets, oversees a team of design professionals, negotiates construction contracts, and oversees construction for clients.

Beacon Development Group recently inquired about the development of a 6- unit apartment complex next to the Ravenna P-Patch in the University District of

Seattle, which Dave will oversee. The Ravenna neighborhood is of particular importance to Dave because it is one of the only neighborhoods to remain relatively affordable in Seattle. This area also has a high density of students and low-income families and individuals, so the demand for affordable, multi-unit housing is high.

From his experience as a developer, he believes the only way to keep prices affordable is keeping the supply up with the demand.

Dave has secured the land for the building, but has been in a lengthy dispute with the Board of Public Works over an application to build a driveway through the

Ravenna P-Patch. With the current housing crisis in Seattle, he believes that all land should be utilized to it’s full potential to accommodate. The Board has proposed an alternative route for the driveway, however it will be significantly more expensive, require intersecting at an already dangerous intersection, and will reroute neighboring complexes, too. He recognizes the benefits of the community garden to the surrounding neighbors, but finds it counterproductive to inconvenience the neighbors and his development project at the garden’s sake.

In making his case, Dave points out that a driveway through the garden might be an inconvenience to the 11 gardeners, but would be in the best interest of the whole community because the alternative would pose a safety hazard for everybody who uses that intersection. His proposed plan would also be the most cost-efficient and require fewer resources. The increased project expenses for the alternative route would require the renters to front the costs through a more expensive rent, which he finds unfair to those who are already financially burdened. 4,5,6,7

4 Times Staff. 1991. “Board Ruling Saves Ravenna P-Patch.” The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 20, 2017.

5 Anon. 2017. “Ravenna.” 2017. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Retrieved May 20, 2017.

6 Anon. 2017. “Seattle Home Prices and Heat Map .” 2017. Trulia. Retrieved May 20, 2017.

7 Schmelzkopf, K. 2002.“Incommensurability, Land Use, and the Right to Space: Community Gardens in New York City”. Urban Geography, 23(4), 323-343. April Barker:

April Barker is currently a member of the Bellingham, WA city council. Her titles include being the Chair of the City Council's Community and Economic

Development Committee; sitting on the Parks and Recreation Committee, as well as the Planning Committee. She views her role as a city council member to be a community organizer, someone to connect people to resources. April has enjoyed working with neighborhoods to build community and a sense of place for all.

Council member Barker was elected by the residents of Ward 1 including the

Birchwood, Alderwood, Colombia, Meridian and Cordata neighborhoods. Just recently, the Birchwood and Alderwood neighborhoods were labeled as food deserts by the United States Department of Agriculture. This label followed the closure of the neighborhood Albertsons grocery store, which left many of the low- income residents over a mile away from the next closest store.

A non-compete clause between Albertsons and Wallace Properties has made the situation even more difficult to fix, restricting any other grocer from occupying the premise until 2040. The cloudy terms under which Albertsons closed showed

April that grocery stores are a volatile business and their priorities are profit, not people. In order to build resilience in a community, there can’t be a reliance on corporate institutions. Thus, it is important that the neighborhood have access to a grocery store, but the problem stems deeper than that. As negotiations are made over the vacant Albertsons building, April is working with the Whatcom Transit Authority, the Bellingham Food Bank, and local grocers to help ease the situation on residents. She has coordinated with WTA in providing more convenient routes for residents to the Fred Meyer, 1.8 miles away, as well as helped to organize a mobile Food Bank stop in the neighborhood. She has also spoken with some of the smaller, local grocers like Neto’s Market to potentially expand to the areas that Albertson’s once served.

Finding a solution to Bellingham’s largest food desert will not be easy, and

April is doubtful that a community garden will be part of it. There are many obstacles that stand in front of success for a garden aimed at easing food insecurity.

First, people need to want a community garden. April has watched the existing garden struggle to find people with the time, money and motivation to tend to it.

Unfortunately, the budget does not allocate any funds to hire someone to maintain the gardens, so that is just not an option. Even if there are people that have the time and money to work in the garden, they usually aren’t the ones who it was intended to serve.

April’s other concern is that gardens have a way of establishing an identity, which can be good, but can also be very detrimental. Deciding who has access and who doesn’t can cause marginalization and end up hurting people more than helping. Furthermore, not having the skills or same education can isolate and discourage people from wanting to get involved with the community at all.

However, she acknowledges that just a couple miles away is the highly successful Cordata community garden. Even this garden has it’s problems, though. It sits on conditional land provided by Caitac until further development plans are made. This is problematic, because what happens when they decide to develop?

April has multiple colleagues who are proponents of the gardens, but she also knows her neighborhood and recognizes where gardens present concerns. What it comes down to is that a solution for one neighborhood might not be the solution for another. 8,9

Interviewed: May 8th, 2017

8 Wohlfeil, Samantha. 2014. “Bellingham community garden caught in debate between city, developer.” The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved May 10, 2017

9 Conahan, Christian, Janae Easlon, and Elizabeth Kayser. 2017.“Birchwood, Alderwood Neighborhoods Labeled as a Food Desert.” Whatcom Watch Online. Retrieved May 21, 2017. Grocery stores too Lack transportation Lack funding for far away public transportation y t

i Not profitable in area Profit >Needs l i No grocery stores b i

s in area s

e Low-income c c

A Traditional food not neighborhood available Capitalism Nowhere to buy Lack knowledge of Unemployment healthy food preparation

Unfamiliar with foods e g a

offered u g POVERTY

n Lack resources a Fast food is quick L

y Cultural barriers t

i Fast food is r d Limited food options u o abundant c o e

F Don’t have time s n I to prepare meals Racism Fast food is cheap

Can’t afford to Healthy food is Work multiple jobs buy food expensive Basic human needs not guaranteed human Housing rights y t i l i Other expenses Lack of affordable b a Not receiving enough housing d

r in food benefits o f f A Healthcare Health is a Supporting a family privilege Stigma Classism Not enough funding Lack of funding for social Causes of the Causes: for food benefits services In the most basic sense, food insecurity is lacking access to healthy food

options. However, the Causes of the Causes model reveals that insecurity stems

much deeper than simple affordability and proximity. In fact, it is almost solely

reliant on external factors and the systems that exist within our society that

perpetuate it. A lot of the issues surrounding food security stem from grocery stores either not being present in a neighborhood, or being unaffordable to those they serve.

While they are an absolute necessity for life, it is often forgotten that grocery stores are also a business and prioritize profit over meeting the needs of a community. This becomes problematic in lower income areas that rely heavily on a store, but are then displaced due to a store closure or relocation. This phenomenon is more common than one would think, yet it’s a massive contributor to food deserts and a primary indicator for food insecurity. The Birchwood and Alderwood neighborhoods in

Bellingham, Washington actually just experienced this with the closure of the local

Albertsons. The motives for this closure are speculative, but still lead to these neighborhoods being classified as food deserts. Examples like this show how needs of lower-income individuals are often overlooked in the face of profit. It also reveals a much deeper issue we have in society with using capitalism to justify disenfranchisement.

Another big contributor to food insecurity is having limited options for healthy food. This manifests in many ways but the most prominent can be seen in neighborhoods where fast food is overly abundant, or the existing stores offer little variety in selection. Homogenous food options present a unique challenge for those who are unfamiliar with what’s available. Whether it’s not knowing how to prepare the food, or not offering the traditional food from one’s culture, the lack of selection really narrows options. This is primarily a concern for low-income individuals, immigrants and refugees because limited variety is often met with financial and transportation burdens that further constrain their options. Go a little deeper and it becomes apparent that this is the product of insufficient resources going to help these populations. This is important for those who immigrate or come to the United

States as refugees because it is so incredibly hard to start a new life, especially if the language is different. Language barriers can hinder employment and housing opportunities, as well as make it more difficult to find existing assistance programs.

Unfortunately, as the causes model indicates, the relationship between cultural barriers, unemployment, and poverty are often very connected and self- perpetuating. This lack of funding and facilities that aid with immersion and other essential resources for ethnic minorities is an example of the systematic racism that exists in the United States. Through this, the cycle of poverty is allowed to continue and create further disparities among these individuals.

As previously mentioned, the ratio of fast food to fresh food retailers is another issue that threatens food security. Fast food is cheap and it’s convenient, making it an appealing option for those tight on time and money. Not by coincidence, there is a much higher proportion of fast food and convenience stores in lower-income neighborhoods than grocery stores (Hilmers, 2012). It makes sense when considering that people who are low-income are financially burdened and must make decisions for food based on efficiency. When you can feed an entire family for under $10 at McDonalds on burgers, fries and soda, or spend $10 on a couple chicken breasts and maybe a few carrots, the decision isn’t too hard.

Especially when factoring in the time commitment to prepare a meal when you’re working 40+ hours, or 5+ days a week, which many lower-income individuals must do to support themselves and their families. The ease of access to fast food is only a fragment of a larger issue concerning affordability. Healthy food is expensive. Not just the price at the register, but the time that must be set aside to prepare a meal when there are so many other things to be doing and spending money on. Eating healthy meals just isn’t an option when there are healthcare bills and rent to pay, too. The price of healthy foods is definitely a problem, but the high costs of living and receiving medical care are just as troubling. There is a severe lack of affordable housing, with rent prices consistently rising and people spending a majority of their income to meet this expense (Vasel,

2016). Meanwhile, the minimum wage has stayed relatively stagnant over the years and is failing to provide a living wage where people can afford climbing prices. The cost of healthcare and insufficient coverage options, particularly for those of lower economic classes, is another related issue. A routine check up at the doctor can cost over $200 uninsured, delivering a baby over $10,000, and an accident resulting in surgery is much, much more (Anon, 2009). Even someone that is financially stable can be struck with enormous debts and cross into poverty as the result of an accident or onset of disease. There is no dispute that food, shelter, and healthcare are essential to survive, yet our society treats them as a privilege. Not guaranteeing access to these basic human needs only exaggerates the disparities that already exist and the poor get poorer and the sick get sicker.

Even with food supplement programs like SNAP, people still experience food insecurity. According to the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, a family of 4 should budget about $500 to feed their family for the month. (Anon, 2006). Yet, the average amount of food benefits a person supporting a family gets is $200, not even half the recommended amount (Valentine, 2005). The eligibility criteria is partially to blame for this as many people go in and out of jobs or have an income that disqualifies them, yet their expenses go beyond what is accounted for. What really takes a toll on how much money is dispersed for food stamps is the lack of adequate funding. The current administration has approved plans to cut the food assistance program by

20% over the next 10 years, withholding over $150 billion total (Rossenbaum,

2016). Millions of recipients will either lose their benefits or experience dramatic cuts in what they receive. What all these cuts to programs reveal is that protecting and promoting health is not a priority in politics, but a privilege that only those who can afford it can have.

Solutions:

As mentioned throughout this paper, food insecurity is a very complicated issue with no easy solution. It is a problem that stems from economic instability, political ideology, cultural differences, and social infrastructures. Therefore, any solution that hopes to be successful in combatting food insecurity must address all factors. Throughout the course of my research, resilience has surfaced as a key component in creating a successful solution. Without it, communities become reliant on external factors and are vulnerable to any change that comes their way. This was seen with the closing of the Albertsons store in North Bellingham, which left all of the residents in a food desert because they had come to rely so heavily on the grocery store. While grocery stores aren’t a bad thing to rely on, it is still very important to have knowledge of resources and skills for food production.

My research also showed me how beneficial community gardens can be for immigrant and refugee communities. Oun Yeav’s story is not uncommon. There are so many people that come to the United States and struggle to find their place, but then find solace and are welcomed into the gardening community. This is because food and gardening are universally practiced and appreciated, regardless of who or where you are. Community gardening is unique in that it transcends the barriers of culture, language, and beliefs, and connects people through a common practice.

People can come together to build social networks for support and strengthen the sense of belongingness in the community, therefore increasing resiliency and community cohesiveness. People need to support each other and stick together, not just to network and build friendships, but because they can empower and educate each other through things like the gardens when institutions fall short.

This is still not an excuse for our government and institutions to slack, nor is it fair for vulnerable populations to have to rely on each other because they can’t rely on society. It is here where I think community gardens might be lagging as a solution. Yes, they build community. Yes, they provide inexpensive access to healthy food. Yes, they’re sustainable, resilient, accessible, etc. However, they don’t tackle the root of the problem, and they don’t force the government and other social infrastructures to be accountable and represent all community members.

Government assistance programs and institutions need to be made a priority.

They need to receive more funding, and they definitely need to be recognized as necessities, not privileges. Nobody should be prevented from opportunities and success because they are hungry, or homeless, or sick. These are basic human needs, and if we are capable of curing once deadly diseases and throwing thousands of pounds of food away everyday, then we can definitely make sure nobody lives in poverty. These are facts, a matter of connecting dots, yet we politicize these basic needs so much. Excuses are made that blame the individuals for being in poverty, when really its society that should be blamed for creating and fueling this problem.

With all that in mind, there is no reason food assistance programs like SNAP should be seeing such extensive budget cuts. They should be expanded. In fact, I would even venture to say that this shouldn’t be a selective program at all. It should be a guaranteed allowance available to anybody who needs it, regardless of where they live, their past, or their employment status. Food is an indisputable need, and everybody should have universal access to it. Besides increasing funding and easing restrictions, I think it’d be really interesting to see some policy aimed at food waste.

We throw out so much perfectly fine food in restaurants and grocery stores alike; it would be cool to see this go somewhere other than the garbage. Whether that looks like organizations picking up the food and doing drop offs for families, or creating restaurants that serve up this food for affordable prices, there is a lot of potential to feed more people, and waste less.

Politics aside, another flaw I’ve come to see with community gardens is that they assume people want them and will utilize and tend to them. This is absolutely not always the case, as April Barker pointed out. So, while they can be successful, it really comes down to what the neighborhood wants. For this reason, I think that an extensive needs assessment must be done before community garden placement.

Where it works in one place, it might not work in another. Gardens require a commitment to maintain, funds for supplies, and the knowledge to grow, but not every community has these things. Furthermore, there is the concern that the people who do have the time and resources to tend gardens are not the people who they’re meant to serve. This can cause an identity to develop in the garden that is intimidating and exclusive.

In general, food security is no easy issue to address. The causes are complex, and the solutions are even more difficult to unravel. While community gardens are definitely an option to consider when everybody is on the same page, they aren’t tackling the root causes that stem from ideology and politics. However, they aren’t just surface level solutions, either. If supplemented with policy changes and support for other assistance programs, community gardens could be very effective at addressing food insecurity. References Non Peer Reviewed

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