Justice Starts at Home

• Communities characterized by low income and minority status often face challenges in accessing dependable sources of fresh and nutritious food.
• Fast-food establishments and liquor stores disproportionately target these underprivileged communities. The disparity is stark, with the lowest income communities having  2.5 times more fast-food restaurants  and  eight times more liquor stores  compared to higher-income areas.
• The detrimental effects of inadequate nutrition and persistent hunger extend beyond health, significantly impacting the educational outcomes and physical development of our youth.

Indeed, the scarcity of nutritious food options has far-reaching implications, particularly for our younger generation. This food insecurity, characterized by inconsistent access to meals and a prevalence of poor nutrition, is not just a matter of hunger. It’s a complex issue that contributes to a cycle of generational poverty and health disparities.

It’s not just about having enough to eat, but about having the right things to eat. The absence of healthy food options can lead to dietary habits that increase the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease later in life.

In the United States, the geographical distribution of food sources significantly contributes to food insecurity. The existence of food “deserts” and “swamps” exacerbates this issue. Food deserts are areas where access to fresh, healthy food options is limited due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient travelling distance. Conversely, food swamps are areas inundated with an abundance of fast food outlets and convenience stores, which primarily offer unhealthy food options. The map below illustrates these issues of food accessibility in the Phoenix area.

These conditions pose a significant challenge for families striving to maintain a balanced diet, leading to a higher risk of diet-related diseases. More critically, for children in these areas, the lack of proper nutrition can have detrimental effects on their cognitive and physical development. This not only impacts their health but also their academic performance and future potential.

Children from low-income families often depend on school meals as their main source of nutrition. It’s reported that  nearly 22 million children are reliant on meal programs at school . However, a significant concern arises when school is not in session. While there are initiatives in place to provide meals during the summer months,  they only manage to reach a mere 16% of the children in need . This underscores the critical gap in addressing food insecurity among our youth outside of the school environment.

Moreover, it’s important to note that this issue extends beyond physical health. Studies have shown that children who experience food insecurity are more likely to face difficulties in school, from  lower academic performance to behavioral problems . Malnourished children are more likely misbehave, struggle to pay attention, and under perform on test as well as have  troubles with social skills and weight gain . It’s important to note that these challenges do not cease at the primary or secondary school level. In fact, the impact of food insecurity continues to be significant even at the  collegiate level, affecting students’ academic performance and overall well-being . This underscores the fact that food insecurity is also an educational issue, with long-term consequences for a child’s future opportunities and economic mobility.

Therefore, addressing food insecurity is not just about ensuring access to food, but about improving the quality of that food and breaking the cycle of health and socio-economic disparities.

Our solution to the issue of limited resources and opportunities for children is home gardening. Our primary goal is to inspire communities, particularly children, with the joy and benefits of gardening. We believe that introducing children to gardening at an early age can foster a lifelong passion that could shape the future of our planet. By empowering them with the knowledge and skills to grow their own food, we are not only addressing immediate nutritional needs but also promoting sustainable practices for future generations.

A community garden serves as a vibrant hub, fostering connections and mutual influence among its participants. It has the potential to  enrich the community’s diversity , bringing together individuals of different backgrounds around a shared passion. Our ultimate goal is to establish such community gardens, and we believe that sparking an interest in gardening among younger generations is a crucial first step. After all, children’s enthusiasm can be contagious, inspiring their parents and shaping the passions of the entire family.

Gardening offers a variety of benefits beyond its social aspects. One of the key advantages is improved nutrition. Gardening allows individuals to grow their own food, providing a cost-effective source of fresh and nutritious produce that can enhance overall health.

In addition, gardening serves as a form of physical activity. While it may not be as intense as other forms of exercise, gardening offers a tranquil and enjoyable way to stay active.

Moreover, the mental health benefits of gardening are significant. It has been shown to  reduce anxiety, boost self-esteem, and increase productivity , among other positive effects. In essence, gardening nurtures not just plants, but the well-being of the gardener as well.

Gardening extends its benefits into the realm of education, addressing a key challenge in our current system - the lack of real-world context. Students thrive when learning is interactive and connected to nature, and gardening provides an ideal platform for this.

In the garden, students apply concepts from various disciplines - math to measure soil and water quantities, logic to plan planting schedules, and biology to understand plant growth. This hands-on approach not only reinforces classroom lessons but also cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

 Integrating gardening into the school curriculum offers a unique opportunity for experiential learning . It allows students to directly apply their classroom knowledge, making learning more relevant and engaging. In essence, school gardens can serve as dynamic outdoor classrooms where academic concepts come to life.

Embarking on the gardening journey at home is the initial step towards engaging a wider audience in this enriching activity. Home gardening can serve as an enjoyable pastime that brings family and friends together. Moreover, it offers the convenience of having fresh produce right at your doorstep, saving families the time and effort of traveling to a community garden or grocery store.

Our mission is to equip anyone interested with the necessary materials and guidance to cultivate their own plants at home, even under challenging conditions. This initiative forms the cornerstone of our project’s objectives. We believe that by fostering a love for gardening at home, we can gradually inspire a broader societal shift towards sustainable living and healthier eating habits.

Our solution harnesses the transformative power of gardening to address two key questions: How can we facilitate access to healthier food options in spaces with limited availability? And how can we ignite a passion for gardening among individuals?

By empowering people to grow their own food at home, we’re creating a decentralized solution that not only promotes healthier eating but also circumvents the space constraints often associated with urban environments.

Moreover, we believe that the joy of watching a seed sprout and grow can inspire even the most reluctant individuals to embrace gardening. Our aim is to make gardening an engaging and rewarding experience that anyone, regardless of their circumstances, can participate in and enjoy.

What are our kits purpose?

Our kits are designed to deliver a comprehensive gardening experience that can be tailored to any scale, without the need for additional space. More than just a gardening tool, they serve as a platform for equitable opportunities for social and academic growth. We believe that the skills and experiences gained from tending to a personal garden can enrich individuals’ lives in unique and meaningful ways.

What is in our kits?

Inside our kits include:

• A Gardening Pot that is durable, reusable, and safe for kids to use
• A Pot Saucer to help collect water flow from the pot
• Soil to help nourish your plant's seeds to grow
• A Variety of Seeds including spinach, snap peas, and cherry tomatoes!
• Peat Pellets to help seeds be protected and grow stable
• Material and Resource Pamphlet to help guide kids through the steps of gardening

What else does your project include?

Our project also includes valuable external resources to enhance your home gardening experience. We offer an Educational Video Series that provides guidance on how to effectively use the kit and how to repurpose and recycle household waste to further your gardening endeavors while keeping costs low.

In addition, we provide an Electronic Cookbook that bridges the gap between garden and table. This resource offers a variety of delicious recipes that you can prepare using the plants grown from your kit.

Both of these resources are accessible on any device, ensuring you have the support you need at your fingertips, wherever you are.

How does our project fix the issues

Our project is designed to inspire and foster growth in the next generation, equipping them with the necessary tools to address sustainable food injustices on environmental, social, and economic scales. We aim to sow the seeds of the future by integrating gardening into children’s lives, nurturing their growth alongside the plants they care for. Our hope is that the beauty and power of gardening will be passed down from generation to generation, creating a lasting legacy of sustainability and connection to nature.

2022 marks as the inaugural year for the “Justice Starts at Home” project. Our goal for this year is to assemble and distribute 100 gardening kits to students residing in historically marginalized communities, thereby bringing the advantages of home gardening directly to their doorsteps. While the initial distribution involves 100 kits, we anticipate a broader impact as we expect this initiative to engage families, friends, and peers in the joy of gardening, one pot and one seed at a time. The future growth of this project is boundless, and the customization of the gardening kits is left to the creativity of each individual gardener. A potential timeline for this project could be as follows:

The future for sustainability is bright and will only grow as generations learn more about how they can shape the earth. As our world changes and becomes more equitable, we must set the foundation for sustainable solutions to flourish. We hope to lead future generations down the path of continued learning and understanding of justice and sustainability.