Gardening for All at the Local Library in Syracuse, New York

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Submission Date: June 2018

State/Territory Submitted on the Behalf of: New York

States/Territories Involved: New York

Funding Source: CDC

CDC Funding:

Yes

CDC Funding (Specified):

Other CDC Funding

Domain Addressed:

Environmental Approaches

Public Health Issue:

  • People with disabilities may have difficulty being active and accessing healthy food due to mobility issues or other issues related to their disability.
  • Gardening can provide increased physical activity and access to healthy foods, but the city of Syracuse had no community gardens designed to be accessible for people with disabilities.

Program Action:

  • In 2016, ARISE, a local non-profit organization, assessed the White Branch Library using the Community Health Inclusion Index, a set of survey tools that helps communities gather information on their healthy living resources.
  • As a result of the survey, the White Branch Library branch manager offered the opportunity of using the library’s existing raised garden planters to grow food.
  • ARISE and library staff engaged people with disabilities who use the library as well as refugees with agricultural backgrounds who attend English language classes there, to plan a garden and plant vegetables.

Impact/Accomplishments:

  • The positive response to the initial vegetable planting led library staff to identify a nearby plot of land where they added raised garden beds that will increase planting space. The food grown in the garden is freely available to community residents. ARISE and library staff will ensure accessibility to the expanded garden for people with disabilities.
  • The library applied to join with Syracuse Grows, a food justice organization that can help them sustain the garden by supporting education and providing resources for urban food production.
  • Library staff plans to organize inclusive nutrition and gardening educational programs to garner more community interest in growing food locally.

Program Areas:

Healthy Communities (general), Social Determinants of Health, Other

State Contact Information:

New York
Connor McGough
ARISE
315-671-5104
cmcgough@ariseinc.org

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