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Why food?

Why we do what we do.

Across the country, people have become disconnected from their food…

And that disconnect is the result of many factors.

It’s the result of choices like convenience over quality, but it’s also the result of the individual and community level knowledge and norms that influence our food choices. These are the things we learn from family and friends, the barrage of food marketing around us, and even the very places where we get our food!

View our educational resources
There is still a growing disparity in access to fresh produce and healthy food outlets… These inequities are why it is so important to foster home-based and community-driven efforts to curb food insecurity.
—Theo Davies, The Works Our Partners

Rebuilding the connection between people and their food can be as simple as planting a seed

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As I started learning it and understanding the connections that gardening has with life and freedom and sustainability and being conscious and mindful of your input and your output…like why haven’t I been doing this?
—Ms. Danielle Walker, Craigmont High School, Memphis View case studies
Growing food…
  • improves nutrition security

  • benefits our mental health

  • connects us to nature and opens our eyes to the effects of climate change

  • positively impacts economic mobility

  • together builds community

Growing food…

  • improves nutrition security

    Adding stable sources of fresh fruits and vegetables improves our nutrition, reducing the risk of chronic disease. Children who participate in gardening are twice as likely to meet the recommendation for fruit and vegetable consumption!

  • benefits our mental health

    Students reported that spending time working in a garden gives time to reflect, feel centered, and let go of stress. Studies have further demonstrated that spending time in the garden reduces stress, builds self-reliance, and increases empathy and reverence for all life.

  • connects us to nature and opens our eyes to the effects of climate change

    A study found that 62% of home gardeners felt their garden fostered a personal connection to nature. Furthermore, community gardens are affordable and efficient ways to bring nature back to cities, providing habitat for flora and fauna, supporting urban biodiversity, and even contributing to flood prevention by filtering and storing rainwater!

  • positively impacts economic mobility

    Growing food has tremendous economic benefit to a household, with an average cost savings of $92 a month! A mere $70 investment in gardening can have a return of upwards of $600. That’s an increase of more than 750%!

  • together builds community

    It offers young people the opportunity to develop skills, spend quality time with adults like their parents and teachers, and to contribute something valuable to their families and local community. Community-building is not the most obvious outcome of a gardening project, but has been found to be among the most significant and long-lasting.

  • Sources on Nutrition Security

  • Sources on Mental Health

  • Sources on Climate Change

  • Sources on Economic Mobility

    Additional Links

  • Sources on Economic Mobility

That’s why we’re on a big, green mission to help everyone in America grow their own food. In homes, in schools, and in their communities.

Everyone should be growing food. In our gardens and urban farms, we see the growth evolving both in people and plants. Empowerment comes from knowing where your food comes from and understanding the benefits for your health. I strive to share this knowledge for the future of our community and this planet.
—Vero Dimas, Brownsville Wellness Coalition Learn more about our partners

so…

why food?

Because growing food changes lives

Start making a difference