Community Garden Research Paper
Community Garden
Heather Seaton
Kaplan University
Community Garden
There are legions of problems in the American culture that stem from dietary choices. Many people in Kansas City struggle with obesity and the numerous health issues that come with it, from diabetes, heart complications, and sleep apnea, to sore backs and knees. The childhood obesity rate keeps climbing. The varying factors that lead to the high obesity rate in this community include unhealthy diets, a lack of knowledge about proper nutrition, and economic limitations. By implementing a program that gives kids an in-depth knowledge of nutrition, from an early age, and supplementing that education with a garden …show more content…
that can supply the community with healthier dietary alternatives, these driving issues can be diminished. Children living in the Kansas City school district would greatly benefit from a community garden because it would provide them with healthier dietary alternatives without causing economic difficulty on their families, and would equip them with a strong education about nutrition.
Obesity, especially childhood obesity, has been a major focus of public health in the United States.
Obesity is different than merely being overweight, although there are health risks for both. Being overweight could be due to excess fat, water, bone, or muscle weight, whereas obesity refers only to having excess fat. Data shows that about one third of children and adolescents from ages 6-19 are considered to be overweight or obese, and 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6-19 are considered obese (Ogden et al, 2012). Obesity can cause many health issues. The most common health risks for obese individuals are type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, some types of cancer, and stroke (Ogden et al, 2012). There is no single cause of obesity and can include genes, eating habits, and …show more content…
income.
It is no secret that implementing plenty of fruits and vegetables in one’s diet has a multitude of health benefits, and produces healthier bodies and minds. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may protect against certain types of cancers, and reduce the risk for heart disease, including heart attacks and stroke (USDA, n.d.). The United States Department of Agriculture, explains that:
“Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes… Eating vegetables and fruits rich in potassium as part of an overall healthy diet may lower blood pressure, and may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss” (USDA, n.d., par 3).
There has been substantial research providing a wealth of information about all the health benefits from eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide a plethora of vitamins and nutrients necessary for proper cell and organ function in the body. And because they are naturally low in fat and calories, eating more fruits and vegetables daily can lead to weight loss and prevent obesity in children and adults.
Unfortunately, many families are unable to afford healthier food options. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, healthier diets rich in fruits and vegetables costs about $1.50 more per day, per person (Dwyer, 2013). That is an increase of over $550 per year for each person in a family. The percentage of families in the Kansas City school district who are low income families, receiving financial assistance from the government has been on the rise. The latest data, provided in 2009 by the New York Times, shows that the percentage of all food stamp recipients in the district has risen 28% from 2007 to 2009, with over 21% of all people in the county receiving food stamps (Bloch, M. et al, 2009). Numerous families in this county are simply unable to afford the cost of healthier foods and therefore do not eat the recommended daily amount of healthy fruits and vegetables.
If not eating healthy is the problem, and economics is an obstacle in the path of eating well, gardening is a solution to both the obstacle and the underlying problem.
Healthy lifestyle choices are nurtured through gardening. They bring people together in a natural environment, keep them active and engaged with one another in a social setting, as well as teaches them economics, gives them a more intimate look at their food, and provides a great training tool for health and wellness. This joining together in these activities gives the people of the community a sense of loyalty and camaraderie (Litt et al, 2011). The benefits of gardening is almost
overwhelming.
A variety of research is available to show that the diets of city dwellers with gardens are healthier than those who do not garden. Specifically, In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was surveyed that gardeners consumed more healthy foods, and less sugary foods and drinks than non-gardeners. In another study conducted in Flint, Michigan, non-gardeners were shown to consume 1.4 times less vegetables per day, and 3.5 times less fruits per day than gardeners living in the city (Litt et al., 2011). Simply having access to fresh food from a garden greatly increases a person’s health and wellbeing.
The Kansas City public school system has a child nutrition department which is in charge of making decisions about the children’s lunches. Their mission is to “offer a variety of programs that are geared towards increasing students’ exposure to fresh and healthy foods” (KC Public Schools, n.d.). The school district is not neglecting this important issue of childhood nutrition, and they appear to be open to new ideas and solutions. The lunch menu is planned by the director of childhood nutrition for the district and by a district dietitian. Together, those two people can help to ensure that the community garden is a huge success by choosing what foods to plant, and what information should be taught about them. We have all heard the proverb, “give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime”. The students will learn all aspects of gardening. They will begin by preparing the ground, tilling up the dirt and removing weeds. They will learn what plants best grow in the area, and which ones need to be planted in direct sunlight, shade, and even partial sunlight. Next comes learning how deep to plant the seed, how far apart to plant them, and how often they should be watered. Between sowing the seeds and harvesting them, they will proudly watch their plants grow, going through all the stages, transforming into ripe fruits and vegetables they can enjoy. Throughout the whole process, they are learning a valuable skill they can carry with them through life.
By adding a curriculum that teaches basic nutrition, health, and science the kids will not only be learning how to grow their own food, they will be learning how these foods and others effect their bodies. The course material will teach the students about good fats, protein, carbohydrates and so much more. It will give them a basic understanding on what their bodies truly need to be healthy, in an unbiased way. It will use material from biology courses and health courses, combining it into relevant information that correlates to the food grown in the garden. In most classrooms, students learn from textbooks. They will be able to see not only the textbook explanation, but also the plants sprouting from the dirt. They can smell the various fragrances from the fresh food growing right before their eyes. The tastes they will encounter are endless. Allowing them to experience their education with all of their senses, can greatly impact their depth of learning on the subject. There could be concerns from citizens opposing the idea. Some residents of St. Paul, Minnesota, opposed the idea of planting a community garden in their city. They were mainly concerned that a garden would attract rodents and other wild animals looking for a free meal (Ferraro, 2012). This problem can be easily diverted with something as simple as a fence. Other resistance could come from those who are more economically minded and are uncertain about the initial cost of starting up a garden. Assuming the land is already available, it should cost no more than $200 to start up a garden of this size (Heidel, n.d.). Seeds are relatively inexpensive, costing usually less than a dollar per package. The highest cost would be the equipment, such as rakes and shovels. This issue could also be easily diverted by having members of the community make donations of their gently used equipment, or by hosting a car wash to raise money to purchase the equipment outright. A school garden holds too many potential benefits to let small, easily resolved, issues such as these get in the way.
The growth rate of obesity and health complications in America is unsettling. The people living in Kansas City are not exempt from this troubling trend. The obvious solution is to change their diets from unhealthy processed foods to one with copious amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, there are economic limitations preventing this conversion. Many of the families in the county are dependent on food stamps and are unable to afford healthier foods. Having a community garden at school that provides fresh fruit and vegetables to the students can make an impressive impact on the health of the entire community, while relieving some of their families’ economic stress. Combining this with education on nutrition makes it immensely more beneficial. This program could provide food for the body and mind in a culture that is starved of real insight on what "healthy" should be.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Dear Ellen Cram,
As the director of child nutrition for Kansas City public schools, you and your team have made impressive strides on increasing the exposure of healthy, nutrition dense foods to the children who attend school in your district. As you know, childhood obesity is on the rise. This issue is made worse for many of the kids in this district due to the large percentage of low income families. According to a study posted by the Harvard School of Public Health, it costs roughly $2,000 more per year on average for a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, money that many of the families in Kansas City simply do not have.
Having a program that offers the children in your district an opportunity to plant a community garden could greatly alleviate some of the economic pressure from the children’s families by providing them with nutritious fruits and vegetables every day for free. Studies show that similar programs in other states have not only increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, but actually changed eating habits, resulting in overall healthier students.
It is a program that Kansas City public schools would be proud to put in their profile. Not only would students learn valuable information about food nutrition and health science, but it is a program that parents would support. Call me today to set up a meeting so we can get started on making a big difference in the lives of these students.
Sincerely,
Heather Seaton
TECH PRESENTATION:
Please follow the link to the tech presentation: http://animoto.com/play/8rsV1BLKSalFT3xgLSx4Eg
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
As a writer and thinker, I learned that I have a habit of being short, simple, and straight to the point. Writing this essay was good practice for me to dive into research so I can provide more information that will fully support my ideas. The writing process is lengthy and it takes a lot of preparation to make a good, solid, well written paper. I learned a valuable lesson about prewriting that I will take with me to other classes and beyond. The paper is more organized and ideas are transitioned more smoothly when proper prewriting has been exhibited. Going through the steps over the course of the term with my classmates was beneficial in that their ideas sparked some of my own, and I was able to incorporate those ideas into my paper. The peer and instructor feedback was incredibly helpful. Some of my classmates may have been timid about providing constructive criticism; in unit 8 their responses to my initial draft were praises about how good of an idea it is, but only the instructor spoke of ideas to help improve the paper. Fortunately, throughout the different units’ invention labs they gave me constructive feedback that I was able to use to make improvements to the final project.
References
Bloch, M., DeParle, J., Ericson, M., Gebeloff, R. (2009, Nov. 28). Food stamp usage across the country. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/28/us/20091128-foodstamps.html?_r=1& Dwyer, M. (2013, Dec. 5). Eating healthy vs. unhealthy diet costs about $1.50 more per day. HSPH News.
Ferraro, N. (2012, April 7). West St. Paul: Community garden idea sprouted opposition. Pioneer
Press. Retrieved from http://www.twincities.com/ci_20343214/west-st-paul-community-garden-idea-sprouted-opposition
Heidel, J. (n.d.). Four vegetable garden types and ideas on a budget. Retrieved from http://www.moneycrashers.com/home-vegetable-garden-ideas/
Kansas City Public Schools. (n.d.). Welcome to child nutrition services. Retrieved from http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2111131702187724 Litt, J.S., Soobader, M., Turbin, M.S., Hale, J.W., Buchenau, M., Marshall, J.A. (2011, Aug).
The influence of social involvement, neighborhood aesthetics, and community garden participation on fruit and vegetable consumption. American Journal of Public Health, 101(8), 1466-1473.
Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Kit, B.K., Flegal, K.M. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999-2010. The Journal of the
American Medical Association, 307(5), 483-490.
USDA. (n.d.) Choose my plate. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables-why.html.
Heather Seaton
Kaplan University
Community Garden
There are legions of problems in the American culture that stem from dietary choices. Many people in Kansas City struggle with obesity and the numerous health issues that come with it, from diabetes, heart complications, and sleep apnea, to sore backs and knees. The childhood obesity rate keeps climbing. The varying factors that lead to the high obesity rate in this community include unhealthy diets, a lack of knowledge about proper nutrition, and economic limitations. By implementing a program that gives kids an in-depth knowledge of nutrition, from an early age, and supplementing that education with a garden …show more content…
that can supply the community with healthier dietary alternatives, these driving issues can be diminished. Children living in the Kansas City school district would greatly benefit from a community garden because it would provide them with healthier dietary alternatives without causing economic difficulty on their families, and would equip them with a strong education about nutrition.
Obesity, especially childhood obesity, has been a major focus of public health in the United States.
Obesity is different than merely being overweight, although there are health risks for both. Being overweight could be due to excess fat, water, bone, or muscle weight, whereas obesity refers only to having excess fat. Data shows that about one third of children and adolescents from ages 6-19 are considered to be overweight or obese, and 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6-19 are considered obese (Ogden et al, 2012). Obesity can cause many health issues. The most common health risks for obese individuals are type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, some types of cancer, and stroke (Ogden et al, 2012). There is no single cause of obesity and can include genes, eating habits, and …show more content…
income.
It is no secret that implementing plenty of fruits and vegetables in one’s diet has a multitude of health benefits, and produces healthier bodies and minds. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may protect against certain types of cancers, and reduce the risk for heart disease, including heart attacks and stroke (USDA, n.d.). The United States Department of Agriculture, explains that:
“Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes… Eating vegetables and fruits rich in potassium as part of an overall healthy diet may lower blood pressure, and may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss” (USDA, n.d., par 3).
There has been substantial research providing a wealth of information about all the health benefits from eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide a plethora of vitamins and nutrients necessary for proper cell and organ function in the body. And because they are naturally low in fat and calories, eating more fruits and vegetables daily can lead to weight loss and prevent obesity in children and adults.
Unfortunately, many families are unable to afford healthier food options. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, healthier diets rich in fruits and vegetables costs about $1.50 more per day, per person (Dwyer, 2013). That is an increase of over $550 per year for each person in a family. The percentage of families in the Kansas City school district who are low income families, receiving financial assistance from the government has been on the rise. The latest data, provided in 2009 by the New York Times, shows that the percentage of all food stamp recipients in the district has risen 28% from 2007 to 2009, with over 21% of all people in the county receiving food stamps (Bloch, M. et al, 2009). Numerous families in this county are simply unable to afford the cost of healthier foods and therefore do not eat the recommended daily amount of healthy fruits and vegetables.
If not eating healthy is the problem, and economics is an obstacle in the path of eating well, gardening is a solution to both the obstacle and the underlying problem.
Healthy lifestyle choices are nurtured through gardening. They bring people together in a natural environment, keep them active and engaged with one another in a social setting, as well as teaches them economics, gives them a more intimate look at their food, and provides a great training tool for health and wellness. This joining together in these activities gives the people of the community a sense of loyalty and camaraderie (Litt et al, 2011). The benefits of gardening is almost
overwhelming.
A variety of research is available to show that the diets of city dwellers with gardens are healthier than those who do not garden. Specifically, In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was surveyed that gardeners consumed more healthy foods, and less sugary foods and drinks than non-gardeners. In another study conducted in Flint, Michigan, non-gardeners were shown to consume 1.4 times less vegetables per day, and 3.5 times less fruits per day than gardeners living in the city (Litt et al., 2011). Simply having access to fresh food from a garden greatly increases a person’s health and wellbeing.
The Kansas City public school system has a child nutrition department which is in charge of making decisions about the children’s lunches. Their mission is to “offer a variety of programs that are geared towards increasing students’ exposure to fresh and healthy foods” (KC Public Schools, n.d.). The school district is not neglecting this important issue of childhood nutrition, and they appear to be open to new ideas and solutions. The lunch menu is planned by the director of childhood nutrition for the district and by a district dietitian. Together, those two people can help to ensure that the community garden is a huge success by choosing what foods to plant, and what information should be taught about them. We have all heard the proverb, “give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime”. The students will learn all aspects of gardening. They will begin by preparing the ground, tilling up the dirt and removing weeds. They will learn what plants best grow in the area, and which ones need to be planted in direct sunlight, shade, and even partial sunlight. Next comes learning how deep to plant the seed, how far apart to plant them, and how often they should be watered. Between sowing the seeds and harvesting them, they will proudly watch their plants grow, going through all the stages, transforming into ripe fruits and vegetables they can enjoy. Throughout the whole process, they are learning a valuable skill they can carry with them through life.
By adding a curriculum that teaches basic nutrition, health, and science the kids will not only be learning how to grow their own food, they will be learning how these foods and others effect their bodies. The course material will teach the students about good fats, protein, carbohydrates and so much more. It will give them a basic understanding on what their bodies truly need to be healthy, in an unbiased way. It will use material from biology courses and health courses, combining it into relevant information that correlates to the food grown in the garden. In most classrooms, students learn from textbooks. They will be able to see not only the textbook explanation, but also the plants sprouting from the dirt. They can smell the various fragrances from the fresh food growing right before their eyes. The tastes they will encounter are endless. Allowing them to experience their education with all of their senses, can greatly impact their depth of learning on the subject. There could be concerns from citizens opposing the idea. Some residents of St. Paul, Minnesota, opposed the idea of planting a community garden in their city. They were mainly concerned that a garden would attract rodents and other wild animals looking for a free meal (Ferraro, 2012). This problem can be easily diverted with something as simple as a fence. Other resistance could come from those who are more economically minded and are uncertain about the initial cost of starting up a garden. Assuming the land is already available, it should cost no more than $200 to start up a garden of this size (Heidel, n.d.). Seeds are relatively inexpensive, costing usually less than a dollar per package. The highest cost would be the equipment, such as rakes and shovels. This issue could also be easily diverted by having members of the community make donations of their gently used equipment, or by hosting a car wash to raise money to purchase the equipment outright. A school garden holds too many potential benefits to let small, easily resolved, issues such as these get in the way.
The growth rate of obesity and health complications in America is unsettling. The people living in Kansas City are not exempt from this troubling trend. The obvious solution is to change their diets from unhealthy processed foods to one with copious amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, there are economic limitations preventing this conversion. Many of the families in the county are dependent on food stamps and are unable to afford healthier foods. Having a community garden at school that provides fresh fruit and vegetables to the students can make an impressive impact on the health of the entire community, while relieving some of their families’ economic stress. Combining this with education on nutrition makes it immensely more beneficial. This program could provide food for the body and mind in a culture that is starved of real insight on what "healthy" should be.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Dear Ellen Cram,
As the director of child nutrition for Kansas City public schools, you and your team have made impressive strides on increasing the exposure of healthy, nutrition dense foods to the children who attend school in your district. As you know, childhood obesity is on the rise. This issue is made worse for many of the kids in this district due to the large percentage of low income families. According to a study posted by the Harvard School of Public Health, it costs roughly $2,000 more per year on average for a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, money that many of the families in Kansas City simply do not have.
Having a program that offers the children in your district an opportunity to plant a community garden could greatly alleviate some of the economic pressure from the children’s families by providing them with nutritious fruits and vegetables every day for free. Studies show that similar programs in other states have not only increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, but actually changed eating habits, resulting in overall healthier students.
It is a program that Kansas City public schools would be proud to put in their profile. Not only would students learn valuable information about food nutrition and health science, but it is a program that parents would support. Call me today to set up a meeting so we can get started on making a big difference in the lives of these students.
Sincerely,
Heather Seaton
TECH PRESENTATION:
Please follow the link to the tech presentation: http://animoto.com/play/8rsV1BLKSalFT3xgLSx4Eg
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
As a writer and thinker, I learned that I have a habit of being short, simple, and straight to the point. Writing this essay was good practice for me to dive into research so I can provide more information that will fully support my ideas. The writing process is lengthy and it takes a lot of preparation to make a good, solid, well written paper. I learned a valuable lesson about prewriting that I will take with me to other classes and beyond. The paper is more organized and ideas are transitioned more smoothly when proper prewriting has been exhibited. Going through the steps over the course of the term with my classmates was beneficial in that their ideas sparked some of my own, and I was able to incorporate those ideas into my paper. The peer and instructor feedback was incredibly helpful. Some of my classmates may have been timid about providing constructive criticism; in unit 8 their responses to my initial draft were praises about how good of an idea it is, but only the instructor spoke of ideas to help improve the paper. Fortunately, throughout the different units’ invention labs they gave me constructive feedback that I was able to use to make improvements to the final project.
References
Bloch, M., DeParle, J., Ericson, M., Gebeloff, R. (2009, Nov. 28). Food stamp usage across the country. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/28/us/20091128-foodstamps.html?_r=1& Dwyer, M. (2013, Dec. 5). Eating healthy vs. unhealthy diet costs about $1.50 more per day. HSPH News.
Ferraro, N. (2012, April 7). West St. Paul: Community garden idea sprouted opposition. Pioneer
Press. Retrieved from http://www.twincities.com/ci_20343214/west-st-paul-community-garden-idea-sprouted-opposition
Heidel, J. (n.d.). Four vegetable garden types and ideas on a budget. Retrieved from http://www.moneycrashers.com/home-vegetable-garden-ideas/
Kansas City Public Schools. (n.d.). Welcome to child nutrition services. Retrieved from http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2111131702187724 Litt, J.S., Soobader, M., Turbin, M.S., Hale, J.W., Buchenau, M., Marshall, J.A. (2011, Aug).
The influence of social involvement, neighborhood aesthetics, and community garden participation on fruit and vegetable consumption. American Journal of Public Health, 101(8), 1466-1473.
Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Kit, B.K., Flegal, K.M. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999-2010. The Journal of the
American Medical Association, 307(5), 483-490.
USDA. (n.d.) Choose my plate. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables-why.html.