The Farmworker Association of Florida has started community gardens in 1 (Fellsmere) of their 5 office (Apopka, Homestead/Florida City, Pierson, Immokalee) locations. These community gardens are known as the Campesinos’ Garden that are rooted in argoecology principles.
Low-income families in farmworker communities have limited access to healthy, affordable, fresh foods due to multiple barriers: transportation, proximity to food retail outlets, pricing of fresh food, and income level. Ironically, the people who work in the fields to bring fresh food to the masses, often are unable to provide sufficient fresh food for their own families. They have the knowledge to grow food, however, which can be used to benefit the health of their families and to positively impact health disparities common among low-income Latinos and other minority populations, such as obesity and diabetes. The Campesinos’ Gardens increase local food production; engage community members in physical activity; gradually influence families’ health knowledge and food choices; and provide a place for farmworkers to learn about growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs without the use of pesticides. The gardens also serve as demonstration sites to model food production techniques that families can incorporate into their home environment. Local markets not only increase community members’ access to healthy, fresh foods, but also connect community members with local farmers while building consciousness of how and where our food is produced and the importance of diet on health.
Fellsmere began 3 years ago (Spring 2011) and have now started selling the extra fruits and vegetables in their local Farmer’s Market. You can read more about the Fellsmere garden process at nfwm-yaya.org. Homestead/Florida City office just broke ground this past April 2014 with hopes of starting to plant this Fall 2014. To learn more about these gardens click here.