Transforming Greenspaces: Impactful Horticultural Transformations
In the heart of Minneapolis, the Urban Agriculture Initiative (UAI) has been making a significant impact in the Broadway and 6th Street neighborhoods. This collaborative effort, formed through a partnership between the University of Minnesota, Hennepin County, and community partners, aims to foster sustainable local food systems and community development [1].
During the summer of 2022, Sheronda Orridge and Elba Negron, local community mentors, guided a group of youth interns in the UAI's summer program. This dedicated team, who named themselves the 'Gardens for Change Crew', embarked on a mission to transform vacant lots into thriving community gardens [2].
One of the youth leaders, Sadaya Bronson, joined the crew as a summer intern. She not only helped tend to the gardens but also led a workshop to paint a sign for the 6th Street garden, renaming it the Sunflower Community Garden [3].
The gardens in these neighborhoods were teeming with life by the end of 2022, bursting with squash, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, kale, garlic, lemon balm, chamomile, mint, and flowers. Visitors took home fresh produce and seedlings, and helped plant the garden, contributing to the community spirit [2].
The UAI goes beyond growing food. It aims to foster community building, closer neighborhood ties, physical and mental wellbeing, and educational opportunities [4]. The youth leaders took field trips to local farms, markets, gardens, and the state Capitol, and led lessons on various topics such as surviving in the wilderness, fixing bikes, getting good sleep, meditating, and more [5].
Craig Taylor, the regional director of the University of Minnesota, expressed his excitement for the upcoming season and the continued growth of the gardens and community [6]. Bridie Musser, the mother of a youth leader named Ben, noticed a positive change in her son's life due to the project and has since become an active participant in gardening events and has connected with the project team, residents from the neighborhood, and the UAI's website [7].
The UAI draws on expertise from Master Gardener volunteers, agriculture educators, and health and nutrition educators, ensuring that the knowledge shared is comprehensive and effective [8]. The initiative also benefits from support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which has invested over $1.6 million in urban agriculture projects statewide [2][4].
Educational outreach, such as soil health bus tours hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension, encourages knowledge sharing about urban agriculture practices, further supporting collaborative gardening and farming projects in the region [3]. Community and advocacy groups like Renewing the Countryside also organize events and walking tours promoting urban agriculture in neighborhoods like North Minneapolis, highlighting ongoing grassroots collaboration among farmers and gardeners [5].
In a statement, Craig Taylor emphasized that the UAI connects and brings power back to the community, empowering youth and fostering a sense of belonging and ownership [6]. Moments like poetry gumbo, where youth are encouraged to openly express themselves, have inspired Sadaya Bronson, teaching her the power of journaling to express herself [9].
The UAI grew out of relationships cultivated over many years through northside 4-H Youth Development programs in agriculture and STEM led by the University of Minnesota educators [10]. Through its continued growth and impact, the Urban Agriculture Initiative is truly transforming lives and communities in Minneapolis.
The Urban Agriculture Initiative (UAI) not only focuses on cultivating local food systems but also promotes home-and-garden activities through collaborative community gardens, as demonstrated by the Gardens for Change Crew's summer project in 2022 [2]. Participants in the UAI's programs, like Sadaya Bronson, not only learn about gardening but also acquire a wide range of lifestyle skills such as meditating, fixing bikes, and surviving in the wilderness [5].
