Analyzing the real-world impacts of the use of Community Gardens and Urban Agriculture

Climate change-related issues of flooding, global warming, and growing food insecurity are exacerbating the current Food Desert crisis and obesity epidemic in the United States. According to data from the CDC and USDA, 58 of the 258 Texas Counties are considered Food Deserts. Many Texans do not have a vehicle or live within a mile of a supermarket, leaving them without access to healthy, affordable food. This creates an endless cycle of obesity, preventable illness, nutritional deficiencies, and food insecurity. Society has begun to adapt to these circumstances by using Urban Agriculture, Community Gardens, and Schoolyard Gardens to increase food security in cities and for lower-income populations. This is also helpful in providing nutrition education for children and adults who otherwise do not have access. The use of these gardens is relatively new on the timeline of human existence, and little research exists to identify just how effective these gardens have been in aiding humanity. Currently, there is little information about health benefits, social benefits, and environmental benefits from these green spaces as a whole. This paper will serve as a comprehensive report on the real-world impacts of these green spaces. The research will outline how effective these projects are in increasing the supply of nutrient-rich, minimally processed foods in low-income areas and looking at heat maps and food desert maps. The report will also examine whether or not these gardens are effective in reducing obesity rates and creating a sense of community. Are Community Gardens living up to what they promise?