Developing and Implementing a Community Garden at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University implemented a Community Garden in March of 2011 for the local North Nashville community to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Tennessee ranks high in the top ten of the states with the greatest numbers of citizen who are obese. We believe by allowing people to grow their own produce, the Community Gardeners will make better food choices, working in their gardens will provide exercise and through gardening individuals will develop friendships through garden contacts.  Initially, in 2011 the Community Garden plots were 30' X 30' and plots were downsized to 20' X 25' in 2012 to the present. Gardeners were able to grow their own fruits and vegetables from April to December of each year. 

At the beginning of each year, gardeners attend workshops. The workshop topics include Beginning Gardening, Weed Control, Fertilization, Composing and Irrigation.  Over the past two years we have had over 270 people working individually or in groups to plant, grow and maintain their own garden plots.  Evaluation of how much produce was grown, harvested and the amount of saving to each gardener is being evaluated by surveying each Community Gardener participants.

Garden participants planted, maintained and harvested their "own" fruits and vegetables, gardeners stated "they started to make healthier food choices" and "their produce was much fresher than the grocery stores produce." Ten (10) gardeners stated they lost between 5 and 10 pounds due to their involvement with gardening therefore, reducing obesity. Many participants exercise through gardening and the garden participants developed social contacts and reported "going fishing with other gardeners." Eighty percent (80%) gardeners reported growing enough produce to consumer all summer and fall and to freeze for the winter, many shared extra produce with other families and friends. Four (4) gardeners worked in large groups to grow produce for themselves and distributed fresh foods to church members and community organizations. Twenty-five (25) gardeners reported saving averaging $500 to $600 per plot for the growing season and twenty (20) others saved between $150 and $300 per plot.  Eighty-five percent (85%) of the gardeners have been involved with the TSU Community since the garden's inception in 2011.