Gardening: A Gateway to Good Food

Community Food Security Coalition Conference, Des Moines, October 2009

GARDENING
A Gateway to Good Food
Friday, October 16, 2009

Rose Hayden-Smith, MAEd, MA, PhD Candidate
University of California - Davis

Angie Tagtow, MS, RD, LD
Environmental Nutrition Solutions

How can we create a
gardening ethos in the US?

Challenges
• Believing that gardens can be productive in a
serious and impactful way
• Tapping into the potential of gardening to lead to
other local food system projects
• Tapping into the potential of urban agriculture
• Tapping into the potential of local food systems
• Tapping into the desire for change
• Redeﬁning aspects of the current food system;
making it a “Good Food” System

WWI: “Food Will Win the War”
• Prevent civil unrest due to food shortages

• Alleviate agricultural labor shortages

• Feed mobilizing troops

• Feed starving European allies through American food conservation
AND increased production efforts

• Encourage local production and consumption to reduce the food
mile and save trains for transport of food and materiel

• Teach youth about the food system and provide them with
academic and life skills

• Improve nutrition and health

• Mobilize and unify Americans around food conservation and
production efforts, particularly gardening

“Good Food” Trivia
The term “food mile” originated in:
a) 1970s
b) 1990s
c) World War I
d) World War II


The term “food mile” originated in:
a) 1970s
b) 1990s
c) World War I
d) World War II

c) The term “food mile” originated during WWI to encourage
local production and consumption to save trains for transport
of food and material

Uncle Sam says GARDEN


Food is
Ammunition
(and bread
bullets, furrows
of freedom, etc.)


WWI Impacts: Liberty/Victory
Garden Campaign
• Gardening programs WORKED: by 1918, U.S.
exporting three times as much grain, meat,
sugar as it had before the war.
• Estimated value of food products from gardens
increased 1/3 in less than a year.
• U.S. School Garden Army enrolled urban and
suburban youth as “soldier of the soil”
• Use of civic space
• Understandings of private property

WWII: Food for Freedom,
Plant to Prosper
• Improve American health, life via school, home and
community gardens

• Encourage proper storage and preservation of surplus

• Enable families/institutions to save on cost of vegetables
to free savings to purchase food

• Community gardens for urban dwellers

• Encourage local production and consumption to reduce
the food mile

• Mobilize and unify Americans around food conservation
and production efforts, particularly GARDENING
(morale, spiritual well-being and recreation)

The Vacant Lot Cultivation Association of
America is a product of which era?
a) 2000s
b) 1990s
c) World War II
d) 1890s


The Vacant Lot Cultivation Association of
America is a product of which era?
a) 2000s
b) 1990s
c) World War II
d) 1890s

d) The Vacant Lot Cultivation Association of America was
started in the 1890s.


VP Henry Wallace in his Victory
Garden - August 1942


Food Commandments


WWII Impacts
• Food production “ﬁrst line of defense”
• 1943 – peak year – 20 million households
gardened (est: 3/5ths of Americans)
• 40% FFV in 1943
• 4.1 billion jars of food preserved
• Gardens as community builders
• One of the most successful homefront
mobilizations in either war…

“Good Food”
Healthy + Green + Fair + Affordable/Accessible


“Eating is an
agricultural act”
--Wendell Berry, What are People For? 1990


Health of Eaters

Photo: Michael Whitehead, Scientists tag sodas as cigarettes of obesity, http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/the-big-evil-of-sweetness/2006/03/10/1141701644562.html


How many new products are placed on
grocery store shelves each year?
a) 100
b) 1,000
c) 20,000
d) 100,000


How many new products are placed on
grocery store shelves each year?
a) 100
b) 1,000
c) 20,000
d) 100,000

c) In 2006, more than 20,000 new food products were
introduced in supermarkets with 54% being candy, gum,
snacks and beverages (USDA ERS)

y science
Made b

Made by na
ture


Life expectancy is predicted to decline by as
much as ﬁve years in the next few decades...

Finkelstein E, Fiebelkorn, I, Wang, G. National medical spending attributable to overweight and obesity: How much, and who’s paying? Health Affairs.
2003;W3;219–226. Olshansky S, et al. A potential decline in life expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century. NEJM. 2005;352:1138-1145.


Life expectancy is predicted to decline by as
much as ﬁve years in the next few decades...

Children will
have a shorter
life expectancy
than their
parents!
Finkelstein E, Fiebelkorn, I, Wang, G. National medical spending attributable to overweight and obesity: How much, and who’s paying? Health Affairs.
2003;W3;219–226. Olshansky S, et al. A potential decline in life expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century. NEJM. 2005;352:1138-1145.


Public health trends and
medical expenditures
are a reﬂection of the
viability and stability of
the food system


How do we make healthy
food the easiest choice?


Food choices directly
inﬂuence our health...


Food choices directly
inﬂuence our health...

...and profoundly
inﬂuence the
health of the
planet

Natural Resources,
Nutrition & Health


http://www.blm.gov/nstc/soil/Kids/images/FOOD%20WEB.jpg


“Proper soil fertility which builds appropriate
levels of humus in the soil is the basis of the
public health system of the future”
--Sir Albert Howard, An Agricultural Testament, 1939

Soil to Health Connection
• Vital to all life
• Nutrient composition of foods
• Pharmaceuticals - antibiotics, anti-cancer agents
• Climate change and global warming - sequester
carbon and decrease greenhouse gases
• Resilience - bounce back from natural disasters

Development
Results 1-1 of about 380 for jordan To see all the details that are visible on the screen,use the "Print" link next to
the map.
creek mall, near West des Moines,
IA

©2008 Google - Imagery ©2008 DigitalGlobe, Map data ©2008 NAVTEQ™ -Terms of Use

A. Jordan Creek
Friday, October 16, 2009 Mall Info Desk

Erosion

Soil slumping and water cascading
Severe gully erosion in a ﬁeld
over the headwall advanced this gully
in northeast Iowa
(photo courtesy of NRCS) beyond a fence in western Iowa
(photo by Tim Kemmis)


Floods
in Iowa
June 2008

Photos by Rodney White, Des Moines Register, June 2008


Iowa Floods of 2008



True or false, it takes 500 years to build
one inch of soil.
a) True
b) False



True or false, it takes 500 years to build
one inch of soil.
a) True
b) False

a) According to the Soil Science Society of America, it
takes 500 years to build one inch of topsoil

Healthy soil grows
healthy food

Healthy food nourishes
healthy people

Healthy people form
healthy communities


Biodiversity


Biodiversity

What would we do without earthworms, bees and birds?


Living Planet Index

↓31% ↓27% ↓28%

Living Planet Index, 2006, available at http://www.panda.org/news_facts/publications/living_planet_report/living_planet_index/index.cfm


“If all mankind were to
disappear, the world
would regenerate back
to the rich state of
equilibrium that existed
ten thousand years ago.
If insects were to vanish,
the environment would
collapse into chaos.”
~Biologist E. O.Wilson


Number of commodities (crop and livestock enterprises) produced for sale on at least 1 percent of all Iowa farms for selected years - 1920 to 2002
1920 (%) 1935 (%) 1945 (%) 1954 (%) 1964 (%) 1978 (%) 1987 (%) 1997 (%) 2002 (%)
Horses (95) Cattle (94) Cattle (92) Corn (91) Corn (87) Corn (90) Corn (79) Corn (68) Corn (58)
Cattle (95) Horses (93) Chicken (91) Cattle (89) Cattle (81) Soybeans (68) Soybeans (65) Soybeans (62) Soybeans (54)
Chicken (95) Chicken (93) Corn (91) Oats (83) Hogs (69) Cattle (60) Cattle (47) Hay (42) Hay (36)
Corn (94) Corn (90) Horses (84) Chicken (82) Hay (62) Hay (56) Hay (46) Cattle (42) Cattle (33)
Hogs (89) Hogs (93) Hogs (81) Hogs (79) Soybeans (57) Hogs (50) Hogs (35) Hogs (19) Horses (13)
Apples (84) Hay (82) Hay (80) Hay (72) Oats (57) Oats (34) Oats (25) Oats (12) Hogs (12)
Hay (82) Potatoes (64) Oats (74) Horses (42) Chicken (48) Horses (13) Horses (10) Horses (11) Oats (8)
Oats (81) Apples (56) Apples (41) Soybeans (37) Horses (26) Chicken (9) Sheep (8) Sheep (4) Sheep (4)
Potatoes (62) Oats (52) Soybeans (40) Potatoes (18) Sheep (17) Sheep (8) Chicken (5) Chicken (2) Chicken (2)
Cherries (57) Grapes (28) Grapes (23) Sheep (16) Potatoes (6) Wheat (1) Ducks (1) Goats (1) Goats (1)
Wheat (36) Plums (28) Potatoes (23) Ducks (5) Wheat (3) Goats (1) Goats (1) Ducks & Geese (1)
Plums (29) Cherries (24) Cherries (20) Apples (5) Sorghum (2) Ducks (1) Wheat (1)
Grapes (28) Sheep (21) Peaches (16) Cherries (4) Red Clover (2)
Ducks (18) Peaches (16) Sheep (16) Peaches (4) Apples (2)
Geese (18) Pears (16) Plums (15) Goats (4) Ducks (2)
Strawberry (17) Mules (13) Pears (13) Grapes (3) Goats (2)
Pears (17) Ducks (12) Red clover (10) Pears (3) Geese (1)
Mules (14) Wheat (12) Mules (6) Plums (3)
Sheep (14) Geese (11) Strawberry (6) Wheat (3)
Timothy (10) Sorghum (9) Ducks (6) Red clover (3)
Peaches (9) Barley (9) Wheat (4) Geese (3)
Bees (9) Red clover (9) Timothy (4) Popcorn (2)
Barley (9) Strawberry (8) Geese (3) Timothy (2)
Raspberry (7) Soybeans (8) Rye (2) Swt potato (2)
Turkeys (7) Raspberry (6) Popcorn (2) Sweet corn (1)
Wt.melon (6) Bees (5) Sweet corn (2) Turkeys (1)
Syrup Sorg (6) Timothy (5) Raspberry (2)
Gooseberry (3) Turkeys (4) Bees (2)
Sweet corn (2) Rye (2) Sorghum (1)
Apricots (2) Popcorn (2)
Tomatoes (2) Sweet corn (2)
Cabbage (1) Swt clover (1)
Popcorn (1) Goats (1)
Currants (1)
n = 34 n = 33 n = 29 n = 26 n = 17 n = 12 n = 12 n = 10 n = 11
Prepared by Michael Carolan, Sociology Department, Iowa State University. Data is from U.S. Census of Agriculture.
Updated to include 2002 data by Andrew Benjamin, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State Univeristy. Data is from the U.S. Census of Agriculture.
Notes about this table can be found on the next page.


Number of commodities (crop and livestock enterprises) produced for sale on at least 1 percent of all Iowa farms for selected years - 1920 to 2002
1920 (%) 1935 (%) 1945 (%) 1954 (%) 1964 (%) 1978 (%) 1987 (%) 1997 (%) 2002 (%)
Horses (95) Cattle (94) Cattle (92) Corn (91) Corn (87) Corn (90) Corn (79) Corn (68) Corn (58)
Cattle (95) Horses (93) Chicken (91) Cattle (89) Cattle (81) Soybeans (68) Soybeans (65) Soybeans (62) Soybeans (54)
Chicken (95) Chicken (93) Corn (91) Oats (83) Hogs (69) Cattle (60) Cattle (47) Hay (42) Hay (36)
Corn (94) Corn (90) Horses (84) Chicken (82) Hay (62) Hay (56) Hay (46) Cattle (42) Cattle (33)
Hogs (89) Hogs (93) Hogs (81) Hogs (79) Soybeans (57) Hogs (50) Hogs (35) Hogs (19) Horses (13)
Apples (84) Hay (82) Hay (80) Hay (72) Oats (57) Oats (34) Oats (25) Oats (12) Hogs (12)
Hay (82) Potatoes (64) Oats (74) Horses (42) Chicken (48) Horses (13) Horses (10) Horses (11) Oats (8)
Oats (81) Apples (56) Apples (41) Soybeans (37) Horses (26) Chicken (9) Sheep (8) Sheep (4) Sheep (4)
Potatoes (62) Oats (52) Soybeans (40) Potatoes (18) Sheep (17) Sheep (8) Chicken (5) Chicken (2) Chicken (2)
Cherries (57) Grapes (28) Grapes (23) Sheep (16) Potatoes (6) Wheat (1) Ducks (1) Goats (1) Goats (1)
Wheat (36) Plums (28) Potatoes (23) Ducks (5) Wheat (3) Goats (1) Goats (1) Ducks & Geese (1)
Plums (29) Cherries (24) Cherries (20) Apples (5) Sorghum (2) Ducks (1) Wheat (1)
Grapes (28) Sheep (21) Peaches (16) Cherries (4) Red Clover (2)
Ducks (18) Peaches (16) Sheep (16) Peaches (4) Apples (2)
Geese (18) Pears (16) Plums (15) Goats (4) Ducks (2)
Strawberry (17) Mules (13) Pears (13) Grapes (3) Goats (2)
Pears (17) Ducks (12) Red clover (10) Pears (3) Geese (1)
Mules (14) Wheat (12) Mules (6) Plums (3)
Sheep (14) Geese (11) Strawberry (6) Wheat (3)
Timothy
Peaches
Bees
(10)
(9)
(9)
Sorghum
Barley
Red clover
(9)
(9)
(9)
Ducks
Wheat
Timothy
(6)
(4)
(4)
Red clover
Geese
Popcorn
(3)
(3)
(2)
In 2007,
Barley
Raspberry
Turkeys
(9)
(7)
(7)
Strawberry
Soybeans
Raspberry
(8)
(8)
(6)
Geese
Rye
Popcorn
(3)
(2)
(2)
Timothy
Swt potato
Sweet corn
(2)
(2)
(1)
<2% of Iowa farms grew
Wt.melon
Syrup Sorg
Gooseberry
(6)
(6)
(3)
Bees
Timothy
Turkeys
(5)
(5)
(4)
Sweet corn
Raspberry
Bees
(2)
(2)
(2)
Turkeys (1)

fruits and vegetables
Sweet corn
Apricots
Tomatoes
(2)
(2)
(2)
Rye
Popcorn
Sweet corn
(2)
(2)
(2)
Sorghum (1)

on .04% of farmland
Cabbage (1) Swt clover (1)
Popcorn (1) Goats (1)
Currants (1)
n = 34 n = 33 n = 29 n = 26 n = 17 n = 12 n = 12 n = 10 n = 11
Prepared by Michael Carolan, Sociology Department, Iowa State University. Data is from U.S. Census of Agriculture.
Updated to include 2002 data by Andrew Benjamin, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State Univeristy. Data is from the U.S. Census of Agriculture.
Notes about this table can be found on the next page.


Ag Production Does Not Meet Dietary Guidelines
Dietary Guidelines for a 2,000 calorie diet
2003 ERS Food Guide Pyramid Servings
3.00
3.0 3.0

2.5
2.25

2.0
1.9
1.8
1.50

0.9 0.9
0.75

0
Fruit Vegetables Milk Whole Grains
Buzby J, Wells H, Vocke G. Possible Implications for U.S. Agriculture from Adoption of Select Dietary Guidelines. Washington, DC: USDA
Economic Research Service; November 2006


Brooks N, Regmi A, Jerado
A. U.S. Food Import
Patterns. USDA Economic
Research Service.
FAU-125, August 2009.


With more than 7,000 species of plants available
for food, what three foods account for 60% of the
total caloric intake of the human diet?
a) Wheat, rice and sugar cane
b) Wheat, rice and corn
c) Rice, corn and soybeans
d) Corn, soybeans and potatoes


With more than 7,000 species of plants available
for food, what three foods account for 60% of the
total caloric intake of the human diet?
a) Wheat, rice and sugar cane
b) Wheat, rice and corn
c) Rice, corn and soybeans
d) Corn, soybeans and potatoes

b) Wheat, rice and corn account for 60% of the total
caloric diet of the human diet worldwide.

Nourishing the earth...

Garden, Garden Revolution
• 7 million new
gardeners this
year

• Sweeping the
nation

• Public policy
• Practice

Food Independence
Day Campaign


Why I’m a Victory Grower
Kids Video Campaign

Emerging Trends and
Opportunities!
• Gardening is now viewed as being
integral to a number of pressing issues:
• Food security
• Food deserts/access
• Community and youth development
• Community health
• Public health – CDC
• Social justice
• Green jobs
• Workforce development


Emerging Trends
• Gardening/food systems is
cutting across a number of
federal agencies

• USDA

• Urban Development

• HUD

• DHHS

• CDC

• Education

• Labor


Emerging Trends
• Unprecedented interest in gardening
• Interest in scaling up production
• Urban agriculture
• Exploding interest among faith
communities
• Civic engagement
• Pervasive use of social media to link,
promote, engage

National Efforts
• Closer partnership with USDA to develop a
national gardening initiative
• White House Garden
• Victory Grower Campaign Food
Independence Day
• Reclaiming Civic Spaces: SF Victory Garden,
People’s Garden, White House
• Desire for engagement

What garden is located on the National
Mall in Washington, DC
a) White House Garden
b) Peter Rabbit’s Garden
c) US Botanic Garden
d) USDA Peoples Garden


What garden is located on the National
Mall in Washington, DC
a) White House Garden
b) Peter Rabbit’s Garden
c) US Botanic Garden
d) USDA Peoples Garden

d) The USDA Peoples Garden is located on the National
Mall in Washington, DC in front of the Whitten Building

www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer

National Efforts
• Blurring of gardening/
urban ag
• Chicago Urban Ag
Symposium
• National Urban Ag
Conference
• NIFA
• Urban Ag/Local Food
Systems


Encourage Even MORE Change…
• Encourage a gardening ethos at all • Begin actively coordinating local
levels…policy, practice and personal foodsheds
value
• Embark upon a fundamental
• Be radical – and intentional – about restructuring of agricultural and
land use and zoning policies that food policies. This includes NOT
support gardening and urban referring to fruits and vegetables as
agriculture “Specialty Crops”
• Develop local, regional, state, • Develop – and mandate – a national
federal polices that support curriculum that educates youth
gardening and urban agriculture about food systems, environment,
healthy lifestyle and
• Make nutrition – particularly
childhood nutrition - a national • Make this simultaneously a
priority grassroots effort (PEOPLE), a goal
of PRIVATE enterprises, and a
• Explicitly link school lunch series of nationally-driven
programs with school and governmental initiative (PUBLIC
community-based garden efforts POLICY)
and local food projects
• Reconsider certain food acquisition
policies for public institutions


How will you contribute
to a gardening ethos?

Thank you!


Gardening: A Gateway to Good Food

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