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Tag: food deserts

Desert- and Swamp-busters: Community Gardens

Desert- and Swamp-busters: Community Gardens

The Artdog Image of Interest Last week’s Image of Interest focused on the problem of food deserts and food swamps. This week, I’d like to focus on one of the solutions that can be used to combat them: the growing movement to create and cultivate–in ALL senses of the word–community gardens. Community gardens are becoming increasingly popular for more very good reasons. Beyond helping lower-income communities stretch their food budgets and gain access to healthy food, which would be enough in itself, they:…

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Deserts and Swamps: a closer look at food insecurity

Deserts and Swamps: a closer look at food insecurity

The Artdog Image of Interest Do you know what a food desert is? What about a food swamp? Do you live near one? They exist in all kinds of places, including rural areas, where you really wouldn’t expect them–but viewing an area in terms of food deserts and food swamps is a way to key in on some root causes of food insecurity. We can join in the effort to fight this trend. First, support community gardens, and efforts to bring farmers markets to low-income areas near you. A quick…

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For Food Security

For Food Security

Day Five: For Food Security I feel more conflicted about this one than I have about my previous gratitude topics. Not that food security is not a marvelous blessing–it truly is, in every sense of the word.  But I’m aware that all around me–in my community, across my nation, and around the world, there are many, many people who do not share this blessing. To express public gratitude for it, in the knowledge of such widespread lack, almost feels like gloating….

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Growing knowledge in the teaching garden

Growing knowledge in the teaching garden

The Artdog Image(s) of Interest  Sometimes there’s no substitute for getting your hands dirty and learning from the ground up. This little video gives a glimpse of the massive potential for tying lessons to life experiences with the Teaching Garden at a Fairfax, VA elementary school. Oak Hill is clearly a fairly upscale neighborhood (note: they still have the Teaching Garden in the 2016-2017 school year), but schools from all different parts of the country, and all different socio-economic levels,…

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