{"id":41,"date":"2022-11-30T03:24:54","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T03:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/greenpower\/?page_id=41"},"modified":"2022-12-16T18:54:36","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T18:54:36","slug":"what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/greenpower\/what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Thinking Green"},"content":{"rendered":"

Information to Know:<\/span><\/h1>\n

According to the NJEDA\u2019s January 2022 \u201cProposed NJ Food Desert Community List,\u201d<\/a> Newark\u2019s 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%.<\/p>\n

Newark\u2019s food deserts \u2013 a region \u201cwhere people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food,\u201d as defined by a study conducted by the USDA<\/a> \u2013 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<\/a> the city is full of fast-food stops.<\/p>\n

\"Map<\/a>
Photo taken from Google Maps<\/figcaption><\/figure>The two nearest grocery stores registered on Google are also helpfully marked by Google\u2019s 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\u2019s 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<\/a>, comments that \u201cworrying about the quality of food is a luxury\u201d 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?<\/p>\n

There are already projects and programs in place to aid in combating Newark\u2019s 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<\/a>, \u201cThe 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.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

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About Greenspaces:<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"A
Photo taken from icon0 com on PublicDomainPictures.net.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are differences between types of greenspaces. Some of these definitions are reflected in the stories we write. The term \u201cgreenspaces\u201d 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>, a greenspace is \u201cland that is partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation,\u201d including parks, gardens, and cemeteries that are open to the public. A community garden as defined by the CDC<\/a> is a \u201ccollaborative [project] on shared open spaces where participants share in the maintenance and products of the garden, including healthful and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables.\u201d 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<\/a> states, \u201cUrban 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.\u201d Each garden tracked by Green Power<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

Some of the possible benefits of community gardens has been listed out by the CDC<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Gardens may offer physical and mental health benefits by providing opportunities to<\/p>\n