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Community Nutrition and Urban Gardening

Nicholas Orem Middle School Garden

The courtyard of Nicholas Orem Middle School (NOMS) served as our pilot school garden. It was first cultivated in the summer of 2005 by 20 young people involved in the Engaged University’s "Extreme School Makeover" Summer Enrichment Camp.  That school year, a before- and after-school gardening club and a science class tended the garden and learned about growing and cooking healthy food.

NOMS has a very diverse population of about 900 students in three grade levels--6,7 and 8.  Approximately 50% are Latino; the remaining half of the student body are African-American and recent immigrants from all across the continent of Africa and from various islands of the Caribbean. It is located in a dense urban setting, next to a metro stop and across the street from a large shopping mall.  Fast food and junk food of all kinds are readily available.  The garden was developed as an antidote to the powerful pressures to make poor nutrition choices in this setting.

The main garden was expanded in the summer of 2006, as part of a second Engaged University Summer Enrichment Camp called "Do It Yourself".  Students involved in the camp planted and harvested a variety of fruits and vegetables.  A separate herb garden was created in 2006, where flowers and culinary herbs are grown.

In addition to gardening, the Engaged University staff work with students to prepare healthy snacks and meals.  Our program teaches students about food advertising and marketing and issues related to modern agricultural food production in addition to the fundaments of gardening and nutrition.  Helping students acquire media literacy as it relates to food choices in addition to gardening and cooking provides the analytical skills and awareness required for young people to make relevant and effective dietary choices.