For many immigrants, the thought of joining a community garden may seem daunting. But César Viveros, co-founder of César Andreu Iglesias Garden in West Kensington, understands the importance of cultural connection.
“While some gardens invite people to use their land,” he said, “it is challenging to find a place where people feel culturally accepted and can grow what they are culturally connected to.”
Throughout the city, various collective organizations are instrumental in funding and maintaining these gardens. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Farm Philly are two urban agriculture initiatives instrumental in funding and maintaining these gardens across Philadelphia.
Yet, the Latine community still struggles to get involved due to a lack of information about joining these spaces. Questions arise about the tangible opportunities and resources these spaces actually provide to Philadelphia’s Latine communities.
Iris, a recent immigrant from Mexico, has tried to connect the foods and culture of her birth country with where she lives now. It’s been difficult, for various reasons.
“I wanted to grow some of the vegetables we use in our traditional cooking,” she explained, “but most community gardens didn’t have the resources or knowledge about these plants.”
This lack of culturally specific gardens can make it difficult for Latines to fully embrace and participate in the local community gardening movement, a concept attached to the idea of ecological citizenship.
The concept of ecological citizenship underscores that everyone is entitled to participate in and benefit from sustainable practices like community gardening. According to a 2012 study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development titled “Impact of a Community Gardening Project on Vegetable Intake, Food Security and Family Relationships: A Community-based Participatory Research Study,” community gardens can help reduce food insecurity and provide fresh produce to local residents.
Community gardens can do this by increasing access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables, thus improving overall dietary habits and nutrition. And a study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that community gardening is associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake, which directly addresses food insecurity by making nutritious food more accessible and affordable for local communities.
The Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden, curated by Pedro Ospina, organizes potluck dinners for garden members, fostering a sense of community among neighbors. The garden’s vegetable plots are situated along the street curb, making them accessible to anyone in the community at any time.
“Food is an essential part of the project and growing food is part of the process,” he said.
Despite positive examples, many wonder about a notable lack of specifically Latine-focused community gardens in Philadelphia. Some residents struggle to find gardens that cater specifically to their cultural needs, or lack clarity on the guidelines in order to make use of the space.
Eugenio Salas, a contributor to the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition, (SEAMAAC), has experienced this firsthand.
“I feel like some of the gardens are very restrictive and they want community members to have limited hours,” he said. “But working immigrants and community gardens sometimes have schedules that do not match with the garden’s.”
Salas advocates for more flexible hours, increased accessibility, language inclusivity, and culturally relevant programming in community gardens. Programs like seed exchanges, which focus on culturally significant plants, can create a welcoming environment for new immigrant members. In addition, he proposed that those who manage gardens consider questions such as: What seeds are important to the community? Which vegetables remind them of their traditions and culture? How can community members take leadership roles in the garden? Are community gardens advertising in languages other than just English?
Many studies that point to inclusive language practices emphasize the necessity of using culturally and linguistically appropriate communication to better serve Latiné and other immigrant communities, such as prioritizing multilingual advertising. Additionally, hosting informational sessions and workshops in multiple languages can ensure that non-English speakers understand how to participate and benefit from community gardens. Providing resources such as bilingual garden coordinators or volunteers can further assist in overcoming language barriers, ensuring that all community members feel welcome and informed.
A study by the Association of Science and Technology Centers highlights the importance of multilingual engagement and partnerships with local organizations to reach diverse communities effectively, showing such strategies can significantly improve participation and inclusivity. Collaboration with local community centers, churches, and schools can help disseminate information more effectively within immigrant communities.
Whether or not city or neighborhood resources exist, Latines often see gardening land in Philadelphia as a way to connect to their own history and culture. But only if the resources exist and can be accessed. Or found.
“There is a gap in communication,” Hector, a community gardener, said. “Many immigrants don’t know these gardens exist, or how to access them. We need more outreach and information available in Spanish and other languages.”
Metro Philadelphia is one of more than 25 news organizations powering the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative. We do solutions reporting on things that affect daily life in our city where the problem and symptoms are obvious, but what’s driving them isn’t. Follow us at @PHLJournoCollab