Information to Know:

According to the NJEDA’s January 2022 “Proposed NJ Food Desert Community List,” Newark’s South, West, East, North and Central districts are within the top 10 ranking of food deserts in the state, with factor scores ranging between 85-80%.

Newark’s food deserts – a region “where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food,” as defined by a study conducted by the USDA – are a problem for residents throughout the city. The residents most affected are often underrepresented in their local government, low-income, and/or disabled with few means to get to a proper grocery store. However, there are no lack of fast-food options. As helpfully shown through Google Maps the city is full of fast-food stops.

The two nearest grocery stores registered on Google are also helpfully marked by Google’s system, but they are notably on opposite sides of the city. As some of the volunteers we have met with have mentioned, there are bodegas that have basic grocery items, such as eggs, milk, and water, but fresh produce is sparse. However, for many families, it’s more important to get something to eat than worry about the quality of the food on the table. Ali Khawaja, Rutgers student and co-president of Lifestyle Medicine, comments that “worrying about the quality of food is a luxury” for many families. It is a luxury that many families, quite literally, cannot afford. Why spend half an hour getting to and from the grocery store when a fast-food chain is right down the street, open at convenient times and serving hearty portions at convenient prices?

There are already projects and programs in place to aid in combating Newark’s food deserts, such as the Nourishing Newark Program, put in place in August of 2022 and administered by the Office of Sustainability. As per a news release from the City of Newark, “The Nourishing Newark Community Grants Program seeks to spur the creation and expansion of sustainable urban food cooperatives, and other community-based healthy food distribution channels.” Our project, however, takes a look at the benefits of greenspaces in the city and in areas where diverse communities, communities of color, Hispanic communities, and low-income homes are underserved and disproportionally affected.

About Greenspaces:

There are differences between types of greenspaces. Some of these definitions are reflected in the stories we write. The term “greenspaces” is used as an umbrella term to remark developed community gardens or urban farms, which differ slightly from each other. As defined by the EPA, a greenspace is “land that is partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation,” including parks, gardens, and cemeteries that are open to the public. A community garden as defined by the CDC is a “collaborative [project] on shared open spaces where participants share in the maintenance and products of the garden, including healthful and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables.” The definition of urban farms nearly mimics the definition of community gardens provided by the CDC, but the significant difference is the location of the garden. A definition presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture states, “Urban agriculture includes the cultivation, processing and distribution of agricultural products in urban and suburban areas. Community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic facilities, and vertical production are all examples of urban agriculture.” Each garden tracked by Green Power differs in categorization, although every garden is a greenspace. The greenspaces featured on this website will be marked accurately according to how they are classified by their organization.

Some of the possible benefits of community gardens has been listed out by the CDC:

Gardens may offer physical and mental health benefits by providing opportunities to

• Eat healthy fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Engage in physical activity, skill building, and creating green space.
• Beautify vacant lots.
• Revitalize communities in industrial areas.
• Revive and beautify public parks.
• Create green rooftops.
• Decrease violence in some neighborhoods, and improve social well-being through strengthening social connections.

Gardens can create sustainable sources of food for people who are incapable of accessing healthy food otherwise. Some of the benefits of community gardens have been noted by members of the organizations we have already spoken with and are featured in the write-ups available on the website.

Overall…

Tracking these spaces for our users helps provide an alternative way for people to become familiarized with organizations and the gardens, as well as learn more about the benefits of community gardens. We also encourage all our visitors to do research into the food deserts that affect not only Newark but other urban, suburban, and rural areas. As we come across relevant resources for this project, we will link them on this page for our readers to learn more about.

Although gardens take a lot of work to get started, extra hands are always welcome to keep them maintained and grow the community. Hopefully you’ll think about reaching out to some of the groups mentioned here to volunteer your time!