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School And Community Gardens Teach Urban Students To Thrive

These programs are giving students opportunities to literally learn and grow.
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By 

Voices Editorial Fellow, The Huffington Post

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Lydia Thompson/NPR

NPR: Healthy Eaters, Strong Minds: What School Gardens Teach Kids

People who live in low-income urban areas tend not to have access to the green spaces that are more easily found in rural and suburban communities. But the lack of connection with nature in concrete jungles is changing, according to NPR's Paige Pfleger. Across the country, various eco-non-profits are populating community centers and high schools with communal gardens.

In Washington, D.C., City Blossoms gives local teens hands-on experience developing a green thumb while learning about nutrition, science and math. What's more, Pfleger reports, the program also teaches business sense  -- students sell their produce at a neighborhood farmer's market. 

"I used to spend money on anything, mainly junk food," said Roshawn Little, a junior at Eastern Senior High School and a worker in the City Blossoms Community Garden. "Now, as I'm working here, I learned how to use my money more responsibly."

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Urban Farming
Giants Edible Community Garden (01 of07)
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In this Aug. 28, 2014, photo, Lore Borsoni, left, of San Francisco, and Lorraine Symynuk, right, of Daly City, Calif., visit in the Edible Garden located in center field at AT&T Park before the start a San Francisco Giants baseball game in San Francisco. From the 20 some cutting-edge, space-saving vertical towers that require far less soil and water to the more traditional raised beds and planter boxes, the garden is not only a tranquil spot in the middle of a bustling ballpark along San Francisco Bay but also an outdoor classroom to teach children and teens even adults for that matter about healthy eating from fresh ingredients and urban farming. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Produce From Urban Farm In Austin, Texas(02 of07)
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In this Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014 photo, Kim Grabosky, farm manager of Travaasa, from Austin, Texas, and Hana, Hawaii, makes sugar scrubs from ingredients like rose petals and lavender, grown on the spaâs urban farm in Austin, at the International Spa Association event, in New York. The ISPAâs annual industry show was a feast for the senses, with treats and treatments that smelled good, felt good and tasted good. (credit:Richard Drew/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Native Americans Urban Gardens(03 of07)
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In this July 10, 2014 photo, James Mendelson, 9, uses a spade to break up soil during a gardening exercise with the American Indian Center in Chicago. The center is using gardens to teach urban Native American youth about the importance of their connection to the land. (credit:Stacy Thacker/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Native Americans Urban Gardens(04 of07)
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In this July 10, 2014 photo, Lilah White, holds an onion plant during a gardening exercise with the American Indian Center in Chicago. The center is using gardens to teach urban Indian youth about the importance of their connection to the land. The garden will be a mixture of edible and medicinal plants. (AP Photo/Stacy Thacker) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Native Americans Urban Gardens(05 of07)
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In this July 10, 2014 photo, Lilah White, left, and Natalie Cree Arguijo carry plants during a gardening exercise with the American Indian Center in Chicago. The center is using gardens to teach urban Native American youth about the importance of their connection to the land. (AP Photo/Stacy Thacker) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Capitol Focus(06 of07)
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In this photo from May 29, 2014, State Sen. Burke Harr, right, shakes hands with urban gardener Matt Low at the Benson community garden in Omaha, Neb. Sen. Harr wants to expand the use of community gardens in urban areas. He is launching a study this summer to try to make it easier to start community gardens, possibly by allowing them to grow on public land. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Portland Farmers Market(07 of07)
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In this Sunday, July 12, 2015 photo, urban farmer Richard Dickinson sells vegetables at the Lent's International Farmers Market in East Portland, Ore. Dickinson, who has lived in East Portland since the 90âs and saw first-hand the impact of unfettered growth and the cityâs neglect, started the Outer Southeast Farmer Training Project with local nonprofit Zenger Farm which teaches East Portlanders how to grow food in their backyards. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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