1. Community Gardens: Excitement Today, Weeds Tomorrow Nathaniel Gula Metropolitan Ministries USF Alumni

2. My Background  Graduated from USF in 2013  Working at Metropolitan Ministries as a “Hunger Coordinator”  Coordinate food based programs and services through partnerships in the community, mainly churches

3. Why Do We Have Community Gardens?  Community- Bring people together toward a common goal. Beautifies and gives purpose to unused space  Education- Reconnecting people to where the food they consume comes from  Food Security- Provides fresh and nutritious food for those who do not have access to it regularly

4. Food Security  WHO- “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. (1)  In the US 14.5% of people do not meet this standard (2). 1: http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story028/en/ 2: http://foodsecurity/research/the-search-for-an-oasis-2/

5. Inherent Challenges  High start-up costs  Land being used is not “permanent”  Disparity between location, need, and volunteers  Requires uncommon passion  Cultural and value-based conflicts

6. What Happens Too Often…

7. Relating Challenges To Food Insecurity / Food Justice  High start-up cost  Prohibitive for lower SES persons  Displaced “other” location for higher SES persons  Poor location tied to high start-up cost  Uncommon enthusiasm  Impactful volunteers are unable to maintain against adversity, conflicts outweigh connections

8. A Solution: How Micro Church Gardens Help  Cost reduction and established practice of giving/volunteerism  Churches in great abundance in lower SES areas  Land is more “safe” from eviction  Lower SES individuals already come to location for food access via pantries

9. A Solution, Part 2  Inherent values of earthly “stewardship” and feeding the poor  Build smaller, let the garden grow as passion grows  Part of networks of larger organizations that provide stability and remove barriers of communication with higher SES counterparts

10. Make Tampa Bay A Leader In Community Gardens!