Food Security

Community food security is a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice.

–Mike Hamm and Anne Bellows

We can talk about how gardens are good for your physical health, emotional well-being, and the natural environment forever- but what makes gardening truly crucial to our sustainability? How does a garden play into our economy or our society?

Community gardens provide a network of community members one can rely on- for information, advice, friendship, and assistance with the physical labor. When you grow your own food (or food for others) it is important to recognize your new level of food security.

If I asked you where your food comes from would your answer entail more than just the "grocery store"? Hopefully, yes- but understanding our food system is no easy task! It is very difficult to obtain intimate details about how and where food was grown, processed, packaged and eventually made available to the public.

Food security speaks to our survival and sustainability. It allows community members to acquire food that will help satisfy their basic nutritional needs and simultaneous lessens our dependence on larger institutions and businesses to supply us with good year round.

According to the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC Website) there are six basic principles of community food security:

1. Low Income Needs- reducing hunger and improving the health of local individuals/communities;

1. Broad Goals- focus on local rural and urban degradation of land, water, air and overall health (i.e. urban sprawl, pollution, lack of family owned farms and poverty);

1. Community Focus- reinforce community resources via community efforts; 

1. Self-Reliance/Empowerment- creating capable individuals; build up community assets; 

1. Local Agriculture- create stronger ties and relationships between consumers and farmers, as well as farmers and markets; 

1. Systems-Oriented- holistic, interdisciplinary collaborations on projects and evaluations of communities 

OU Ecohouse Community Garden (photo by: Markie Miller)

For a direct link to these six basic principles, please click here.

A small backyard garden could be a powerful tool that helps us move to a more sustainable lifestyle. Whether it is a community garden or not, it can be utilized in building networks and relationships within a community or given area. I would like to share a story about my garden at home, back in Toledo. A few years ago my father was starting up his own vegetable garden. Newly retired, he had found an activity that not only provided for his family, but kept him physically active and happy. We had harvested more cucumbers than our family of 4 could consume. My parents spent their entire weekend slicing cucumbers and making refrigerator pickles. Our freezer was now overloaded with zucchini bread (which is never a bad thing!) and the fridge had been invaded with jar after jar of cucumbers and banana peppers! Overwhelmed with the amount of produce we had stocked up on in only a short weekend we decided to send a few jars across the street to our elderly new neighbors. We did not know much about them, but those jars had opened the doors. A few days later, we received a beautiful hand written thank you letter. Not only did the woman that lived there want to thank us for sharing our personal harvest; she also wanted to thank us for reminding her of her childhood when her mother and her grandmother would spend many summer nights canning cucumbers to make (what seemed like) an endless supply of refrigerator pickles! She was overwhelmed with memories- just be seeing a jar of homemade pickles!

This was a touching experience that has stayed with me every year when I'm preparing to plant something. It humanized these strangers that we lived next to. They went from being strangers to family friends practically over night- without even speaking to us face-to-face. Every year she makes a plate of Christmas cookies for her grandchildren, and saves a plate for us as well!

Since the start of his vegetable garden, my father now shares gardening tips and produce with other neighbors. He has been able to communicate with neighbors that live two or three blocks away who share a common interest. Not only do we now have fresh, organic produce readily available, but also a network of neighbors to rely on when we need help.

If you are a student, like me, you might not have a yard or space provided to grow your own food. Luckily, OU provides one for you! The Ecohouse has beds available over the summer to those who want them. You can contact me for more information! The Athens Farmers Market provides community members with locally grown products and a network of farmers and entrepreneurs who are excited to not only share their knowledge, but also learn from their environment.

Community Food Initiative (CFI) has a donation station (can be found at the farmers market) which allows individuals to donate cash or produce that they bought on site at the Farmers Market. I am excited to learn more about local opportunities and organizations similar to CFI! They have a very impressive and interesting organization. I encourage Athens residents to check out their website here!

I have provided here a VERY brief view of overview of food security. There is a vast amount of literature on this topic and many organizations and grassroots initiatives that work to promote this idea. I encourage you not only as residents of Athens, Ohio, but as ecological citizens to familiarize yourself with this concept (among others relating to sustainability).