School Wide PBL: How can an urban garden help solve food inequity?

SPARK has created a School Wide Project-Based Learning (PBL) which is an educational approach that involves engaging students in real-world, complex problems or challenges that require critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. It is designed to promote deeper understanding of content, develop 21st-century skills, and foster a sense of ownership and responsibility in students' learning.

When it comes to addressing food inequity, an urban garden can play a significant role. Here's how an urban garden can help solve food inequity:

1. Local Food Production: An urban garden allows for the cultivation of fresh produce within the community itself. By growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs locally, urban gardens increase the availability of nutritious food options in areas where access to fresh produce may be limited.
2. Community Engagement: Urban gardens provide opportunities for community members to come together, collaborate, and take collective action. By involving students, families, and other community members in the process of planning, maintaining, and harvesting from the garden, urban gardens create a sense of ownership and empower individuals to address food inequity in their own neighborhoods.
3. Education and Awareness: An urban garden serves as a powerful educational tool. It offers hands-on learning experiences for students, teaching them about plant life cycles, sustainable farming practices, and nutrition. Through these experiences, students develop a deeper understanding of the importance of healthy eating and the impact of food choices on their overall well-being.
4. Food Security: By growing food locally, urban gardens contribute to food security by reducing the dependence on external food sources. They help mitigate the effects of food deserts, where fresh and healthy food options are scarce, and provide a reliable supply of nutritious produce for the community.

SPARK’s interdisciplinary approach involves integrating multiple subject areas and connecting them to real-world contexts, projects, or themes. Instead of teaching subjects in isolation, an interdisciplinary approach encourages teachers to collaborate and design learning experiences that incorporate various disciplines.

STE(A)M Community Partners 

• Druid Hills Civic Association

• Atlanta Community Feed Bank