Funded Projects

Nourish Foundation Community Garden

Project Year

2024

City & State

Opelika, Alabama

Program Name

CATCH Implementation

Topic

Nutrition

Program Description

Problem: In Opelika and the surrounding community, 17.2% of people are living in poverty and Alabama as a whole ranks 44 out of 50 for people living with food insecurity. In addition, 37.4% of the population is Black and 6.3% is Hispanic and literature has shown that food insecurity and lifestyle illnesses, such as obesity, affect Black and Hispanic people disproportionately. In many cases, this is due to lack of access to healthy foods, specifically fruits and vegetables. Primary Setting: Opelika outdoor space at the Darden House, owned by the Darden Foundation which was founded in order to honor the first black physician in Opelika, AL, Dr. J.W. Darden. The Darden House is in a central location in Opelika, 1323 Auburn St. Opelika, AL 36801, within walking distance for many families affected by food insecurity. Number of Children Affected: 50 children and family members.  Project Goal: Over the course of 1 year, 50 children and families in the Opelika, including those affected by food insecurity, will learn how to grow their own produce and participate in a gardening and nutrition class. They will participate in the maintenance of a community garden and grow produce which they will then consume. Given that many of the community members are food insecure, this increased access to produce and increased knowledge regarding growing produce will serve to decrease the prevalence of food insecurity in our community and thereby decrease the burden of chronic disease. The Nourish Foundation will purchase garden beds, tools, irrigation supplies, soil and fertilizer and install a community garden at the Darden House. In order to achieve this goal, The Darden Foundation will provide the land for the community garden and allow use of water for irrigation. A team composed of volunteers from our partner organizations, including The Nourish Foundation and VCOM-Auburn, will develop flyers to hand out to the surrounding community to raise awareness of the garden and gardening and nutrition classes. The Alabama Extension Agency has an already developed gardening and nutrition class for children and families which they will teach to the community. During the classes, we will offer each child and their family members the opportunity to assist in the construction of the garden, and planting, growing and harvesting of produce in the raised beds in the garden. In addition, recipes will be provided and a cooking demonstration will occur. All services, educational materials, and produce will be provided to clients free of charge. Incentives will be offered to encourage families to attend the gardening classes and to sign up to help care for the community garden. Anticipated Outcomes: 50 children and families in the Opelika community will learn the benefits of and develop skills in growing their own fruits and vegetables and maintaining a garden. In addition, they will learn about healthy nutrition and preparation of healthy food. This increased education will help to decrease the rate of food insecurity in our community. 

Project Goal

Over the course of 1 year, 50 children and families in the Opelika, specifically those affected by food insecurity, will learn how to grow their own produce and participate in maintaining a community garden thereby decreasing the prevalence of food insecurity in our community decreasing the burden of chronic disease. 

Project Objective 1

Increase knowledge related to growing produce for 50 children and families affected by food insecurity in the Opelika community over 1 year. 

Project Objective 2

Increase the consumption of fresh produce for 50 children and families affected by food insecurity in the Opelika community over 1-year. 

Project Objective 3

Increase the likelihood of growing their own produce at their homes and/or at the community garden for 50 children and families affected by food insecurity in the Opelika community over 1 year. 

AAP District

District X

Institutional Name

The Darden House

Contact 1

Katie Wolter, MD