Community Gardening is promoted as a solution to food security and health throughout the world. It’s possibilities, however, are limited for a number of reasons, including availability and cost of land, the lack of leadership, a gap in skills and/or interest in agriculture, and the gentrification of communities. In this course, we will explore community gardening, and learn the skills necessary to run a successful garden. The course is primarily hands-on and outdoors. In addition to discussions, a major focus of the course will be learning in the fields at the Field and Fork Student Gardens. During class sessions, students will discuss different structures and management techniques and strategies for community gardens and learn basic gardening principles such as soil health, irrigation, crop selection, pest and disease management, and harvest/post-harvest handling. In addition to assisting in the production fields, we will devote the field component to work on a demonstration project for the gardens. This course is ideal for students interested in sustainable agriculture, community gardening, community development, public health, social work, sociology, education, geography, planning, and sustainability. For more information, contact Anna Prizzia –
aprizzia@ufl.edu.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand community gardening- why it occurs where it does, who practices it, and for what reasons
- Think critically about the possibilities and limits of community gardens and food system localization
- Understand agro-ecological principles related to food production and its role in community gardening
- Develop basic skills for food production, including soil health, irrigation, crop selection, pest management, and harvesting/post-harvest handling
- Understand the elements necessary to develop successful demonstrations for a public garden
