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INVESTIGATOR: Wilkerson-Franklin, T. R.; Johnson, A.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
SOUTHERN UNIV
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70813

ERADICATING FOOD DESERTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL GARDENS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Eradicating Food Deserts in Neighborhoods through the Development of School Gardens project seeks to successfully educate local community people and students on the importance of growing their own produce. The project will utilize a holistic, hands-on approach to gardening in conjunction with the newly developed, self-produced SUAREC Community Gardening Curriculum. The objectives of the project will be accomplished through classroom instruction of the 14-lesson SUAREC curriculum, additional 4-H Youth Development Curriculums, and hands-on demonstrations. Through this unique program, Extension Agents and Associates will certify students, ages 13-17 as Youth Master Gardeners, as there is no existing curriculum which certifies youth with mastery level gardening skills. The overall goal of this project is to eradicate food deserts in neighborhoods through the development of school gardens by educating local community people and students on the importance of growing their own produce, which will utilize a hands-on approach to gardening. In an on-going effort to improve food deserts, which are in close proximity of the SUAREC, the project will address three, aforementioned objectives.

OBJECTIVES: The specific objectives of the proposal are: 1. 80% of youth recruited for the program will increase agricultural and nutritional awareness by demonstrating a change in nutrition choices, which are deemed healthier. 2. 80% of youth will increase leadership development skills, self-esteem and environmental stewardship by adopting new practices introduced during class sessions. 3. 80% of youth will learn and practice sustainable gardening techniques which are transferable or easy to replicate by developing a plan to start a personal, home-based garden for the summer.