Gardening |
COMMUNITY
Gardening FOR LIFE
BY CAROLINE A. FISHER, M.A.
G
rowing your own food is way to connect to the earth and be blessed by the bounty she gives. It reduces reliance on other sources by providing food (and good health) in your own back yard, or often, in a community setting where the public is invited to both garden and share the harvest. In one part of Navajo country, nestled in northern Arizona near Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, Utah, the city of Page is not only a Native American oasis, it is simultaneously a food desert, meaning that a large group of people who live in the area do not have access to a supermarket or a large grocery store without traveling long distances. This obstacle means that many residents rely on convenience stores or a garden for their daily food source. But not everyone has the capability or environment for a bountiful garden. Looking around their Page community, gardener Nancy Crosby and her husband saw the needs of their neighbors and a potential solution to the food desert situation they live in. Since there are no garden nurseries within 100 miles, a community garden seemed to be the best way help others learn about growing their own food. In 2017, the Crosbys decided to create a garden that engages not just adults, but children. That was the beginning of the community garden called “Seeds for Life” sponsored by the Page All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church. The garden was created when Nancy’s husband got permission to turn a parking lot into a greenhouse. Ever since, Nancy has been implementing various methods of gardening and working with the community to instill a love of growing and experiencing planting, gardening, and eating the fresh produce. Gardening has been a key factor for many families across the United States to maintain health and food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gardening not only provides fresh, healthy food for you and your family, it is also a fun way to get exercise, fresh air, and enjoy being with your family or friends outside. In Page, the Seeds for Life community garden has broccoli, cauliflower, kale, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, spinach, and beets, as well as a variety of herbs, including cilantro, basil, and parsley. It has strawberries
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A M E R I C A N I N D I A N & A L A S K A N AT I V E L I V I N G
