Psychology Textbook Part I Chapter 3 Green Space Programs as a Shared Growth and Communal Process A Somali Gardener’s Journey in

GREEN SPACE PROGRAMS AS A SHARED GROWTH AND COMMUNAL PROCESS A SOMALI JOURNEY IN MINNESOTA August John Hoffman , This case study narrative describes the personal growth process , learning experiences , and development of a young woman through the lens of a community gardening and green space program located in Paul ,

40 SEE CONTRIBUTORS PAGE FOR LIST OF AUTHORS ( EDITED PALMER , TODD ROGERS , JUDAH , AND ) The Big Picture ( Image is oftwo young women of Somali descent vegetables ) is currently completing a graduate program in Individualized Studies with an emphasis in Gardening Development at Metropolitan State University and actively participates in developing healthy foods at several gardens in the Twin Cities region . Her focus is providing members of underrepresented groups with greater access to food plots and enabling them with resources in growing healthier foods . Community growth , collaboration , and communal development of healthy foods is the central thesis of this paper , and how one young woman efforts to provide access to healthier foods to underserved and marginalized community members gradually became realized through her work at the Hills Metropolitan State Community Garden during the Summer 2020 growing season . goals include promoting food justice to marginalized groups residing in the upper Midwest region and developing a more sustainable ecosystem that promotes autonomy and healthy living conditions . This case study identifies important psychosocial factors such as community engagement , collaboration , inclusion , and superordinate goals as vital concepts in not only helping to produce a successful community garden but perhaps more importantly how these intersectional qualities can help us to better understand one another and coexist within a more harmonious society .

CASE STUDIES IN COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE A GLOBAL LENS Al Community gardening , natural outdoor and green space activities have recently gained empirical support in providing a broad range of benefits , including reduced obesity ( et , 2018 ) ecological resilience among indigenous populations ( Shava , et , 2010 ) social capital ( et , 2010 ) and increased community resilience among immigrant populations ( 2011 ) While community gardens , green space , and natural environments have long remained popular activities among individuals and family members living in both rural and urban environments , only recently Figure Grown Stare have these environments been examined as Au providing specific benefits such as psychological ( et , 2017 ) and improved quality of life among younger populations such as adolescents and children ( et , 2016 ) More recently , current research has identified activity and participation within community gardening and green space environments as particularly beneficial to immigrant and refugee populations ( Mason , 2016 ) Community gardening and environmentally sustainable green space activities support fundamental principles shared by community psychologists in that they provide unique opportunities for diverse groups of individuals to work collaboratively and establish a stronger sense of community inclusion , engage in social change , and promote psychosocial health ( 2015 ) The Hills Metropolitan State University Community Garden The Hills Metropolitan State University Community Garden was established in 2010 for the purpose of providing healthy foods to families of the Bluff area located in Paul , The garden was established primarily as a cooperative between two higher educational institutions of the Minnesota State System ( Metropolitan State University and Hills Community College ) and provides an environmentally sustainable learning environment for students from both institutions to work collaboratively in producing a broad

42 SEE CONTRIBUTORS PAGE FOR LIST OF AUTHORS ( EDITED BY PALMER , TODD ROGERS , JUDAH VIOLA , AND ) range of healthy foods for community residents . The community garden ( approximately acre ) is located on the southeast portion of the Hills campus which is located in Grove Heights , The garden is comprised of three separate components or divisions A cooperative garden area where students work in producing healthy foods for local food banks a fruit tree orchard ( over 60 fruit trees ) consisting of over 16 different apple tree ( FrostBite , etc . and the final segment consists of 40 vegetable garden plots ( 10 10 ) designated for community residents . Since 2010 , the Hills Metropolitan State University Community Garden has produced over 15 , 000 . of a variety of fresh vegetables and over . of apples which have been donated to local charities and food distribution centers throughout Paul and . The purpose of this current case study is to provide a personal and description of how a young American woman ( has participated and worked in several community gardens in the upper Midwest region ( Big River Farms located in Marine on , The Interfaith Garden located in , and The Hills Metropolitan State Community Garden ) The current case study will focus primarily on work in developing her own community garden at the Hills Metropolitan State Community Garden located in Grove Heights , An interesting component of this case study review is in understanding how one individual uses her personal experiences in witnessing malnutrition and food insecurity as a young child in as both a transformational and motivational process in growing healthy foods for underserved populations in the Twin Cities region . primary initiative in green space development and community gardening State University . activities has been her early childhood experiences while growing up in , where food shortages and other natural resources ( potable water ) remain increasingly in short supply . comments My goal at the garden is to grow food for the community specifically for the elders as well as teach healthy food options and encourage health and wellness during these difficult Additionally , we hope to provide useful information to other immigrant families who would like to participate in community stewardship programs such as community gardening and forestry programs to improve access to healthier foods . Figure Aerial View ofthe Hills Metropolitan State Community Garden Circa Photo courtesy of August Hoffman

CASE STUDIES IN COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE A GLOBAL LENS 43 Community Gardening , Social Integration and Health Promotion among Immigrant Families Given the rapid increases in the populations of individuals living in impacted and urban environments , the benefits of both green space and community gardens are becoming both necessary and important activities that help in sustaining optimal physical and psychological health . For specific refugee and immigrant populations , often just having access to potable water and minimal amounts of sustainable foods are challenges that are faced on a daily basis . According to recent estimates published by the Food and Agricultural Organization ( an international agency devoted to promoting healthy foods to impoverished families throughout the world ) over 153 million people or approximately 26 of the population of Africa will suffer from starvation or food insecurity ( Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , 2016 ) The need to promote community gardening programs and skills in producing healthy foods that are similar to the refugees native homeland and food environment is critical to the successful transition to the United States ( 2014 ) In personal experience as a child growing up in , she experienced firsthand how food shortages can have serious negative consequences on the health and welfare of community residents , and how immigrants and populations here in the United States often face disproportionate levels of food insecurity . More specifically , as the frequency of refugee and immigrant populations arriving in the United States have increased over time researchers have discovered that access to native foods through horticultural ( community gardening ) and green space programs play a critical link in successful adaptation , assimilation , and improved mental health ( Mason , 2016 Wilson , et , 2010 ) Communities that educate how native foods are grown and provide tools and resources within those environments that facilitate a successful harvest can help immigrant families adapt to their new communities more successfully and also improve both psychosocial and physiological measures of optimal health , including a greater sense of identity with their former selves ( Mason , 2016 , 1158 ) Measures of improved physical and psychosocial health included greater access to organic foods ( Carney , et , 2012 ) reduced cardiovascular disease , depression ( Tracey , et , 2020 ) and body mass index ( et , 2017 ) Recent data suggests that community gardening programs have been associated with the development of healthier and more sustainable lifestyles ( connection with nature , social health , and increased physical activity ) that are compatible with ethnically diverse families who are currently living in ( urban environments ( et , 2019 ) Photo Courtesy Hoffman Additionally , recent topics of research within the discipline of community psychology have identified green sustainable programs such as community gardening as a viable approach in promoting wellness and mental health especially among vulnerable populations ( et , 2017 ) Communities that provide residents with opportunities to share knowledge and their own personal experiences in the development of a community garden not only improve food security but have also

44 SEE CONTRIBUTORS PAGE FOR LIST OF AUTHORS ( EDITED BY PALMER , TODD ROGERS , JUDAH VIOLA , AND ) been identified as providing other numerous benefits to the community , such as increased social capital , resilience and empowerment among those residents who live within those neighborhoods ( et , 2010 ) Indeed , communities providing residents with an opportunity to participate in green space and community gardens are perceived as desirable living environments that contribute to a greater sense of psychological , social cohesiveness and trust ( et , 2020 ) immigrated to the United States when she was eight years old and has had a long passion to provide healthy foods to the community members where she currently resides in , Growing up in a community in , food and potable water have never been taken for granted and are considered precious commodities . has seen families struggle in just maintaining enough food to survive and has commented that she would like to see a more collective effort from the community in participating and contributing to the development of increased sustainable gardening programs . The culture from which is accustomed to is just that collectivistically oriented to groups working together in promoting a better way of life for survival . In the United States , has commented that people are more dispersed , competitive , and more concerned about getting ahead at the expense of others rather than working collectively to share benefits with each other . I came from a communal environment explains , and when families experience a crisis , such as a death in the family , the first thing we do is to bring food . Food has a wonderful way of bringing people together especially during times of stress and Squash ( Common name . Winter Squash ) from Growing Food for a Healthy Community as an Educational Process An important component of growing healthy foods for the community is education . Part of goal in developing a healthy foods program is in helping children understand not only the benefits of healthier eating , but also the actual origins of the foods they consume . is convinced that when children play a role in the development and maintenance of a community garden they are improving their knowledge about food but also are more likely to consume the foods that they have helped propagate . This is especially important with vegetables ( leafy greens ) that are healthy but are often less preferential and palatable for younger children ( broccoli , spinach , and kale ) In more environments , groups of individuals ( of all ages ) work together and share the benefits of common goals that are vital to the survival and of community members . Perhaps more importantly , younger populations of children who share in the responsibility of growing healthy and sustainable foods such as , cultivating , planting seeds , and harvesting learn the delicate balance of sustainable and the human responsibility in respecting the fragile and finite resources of the environment . has indicated that she is committed to serving the refugee and immigrant community in Minnesota because . I have seen from my own experiences in

CASE STUDIES IN COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE A GLOBAL LENS 45 coming from an immigrant family . I know that I can not do this alone , and that is why I have partnered with Big River Farms and The Interfaith From to Minnesota Foods that Facilitate Resettlement Assimilation Community gardening programs , green space , and natural environments are unique in that they provide numerous health benefits to community residents in both urban and rural areas . Adapting to a new environment as an immigrant or refugee can be very stressful , and providing native foods from one homeland can be an effective mechanism that holds numerous benefits to individual health among vulnerable populations ( Tracey , et , 2020 ) Minnesota is rapidly becoming a common settlement worldwide among refugees and immigrants who are escaping a number of threats to their personal safety and , including malnutrition , oppressive governments ( ethnic genocide ) and persecution for religious beliefs . Currently , Minnesota ranks as the leading state within the United States in resettlement for refugees primarily from Africa and Southeast Asia ( Mason , 2016 , Figure Apple Tree ( located at the State Community Orchard . Originated 1922 Horticultural Research Center . Charles I 54 ) Zone species ) August 2020 ) Photo Courtesy of August Hoffman A Greener Vision for the Future An important scope and general purpose in community gardening and green space programs is the future itself and how to get more community members involved in participating in sustainable and healthy foods production . Several of the student participants in the community gardening program indicated that they enjoyed working with other students and community participants in providing healthier foods for families . One of the student participants ( commented that he loved every minute of working outside to help produce healthy foods for the community members . Providing people with these kinds of opportunities gives us an opportunity to get to know each other better and help people who are less fortunate than has indicated that she is trying to help community members work with immigrant families in a more collaborative process that will not only teaching participants the nutritious benefits of her native foods from , but that most related problems ( shortages of healthy foods ) is actually preventable and . When I started growing my vegetables in the gardens

46 SEE CONTRIBUTORS PAGE FOR LIST OF AUTHORS ( EDITED BY PALMER , TODD ROGERS , JUDAH VIOLA , AND ) I noticed how much food is wasted here in the United States and that hunger is actually a If she is provided with the resources and opportunities , plans to build an even larger sustainable foods program in southeast Minnesota ( up to 20 acres . has indicated that some of her most formidable challenges have been in finding community stakeholders who are willing to help provide resources in the continued development of sustainable green space activities and community gardening programs . Providing opportunities for immigrants to work in a more collaborative process in the Figure Somali Metropolitan State University harvesting vegetables development and proliferation of ethnic foods Photo courtesy of August Hoffman is an empowering process that can help people from all backgrounds to better understand different cultures . Community psychologists can help facilitate the process of bridging cultural gaps and reducing racial stereotypes by serving as advocates in the development of sustainable green space environments such as community gardens . has found the process of developing sustainable community gardens and providing healthier foods from her native homeland of personally a very rewarding and intrinsically satisfying experience . Her goals are to provide healthier and organic foods for vulnerable Somali populations and older adults who are currently facing economic hardships . has recognized that the voices within the community need to be heard and . I would like to see more families eating healthier foods together and growing their own proposal includes planting native seeds from her native homeland including leafy green vegetables , beans and even fried bananas for families with low incomes in the United States , including immigrant families from , Ethiopia , Kenya and Southeast Asia . is also concerned about increasing global environmental pollution ( the proliferation of plastics ) which directly impacts the quality of soil and water used for agricultural Figure Metropolitan State University students cultivating a pepper garden at the . Hills Metropolitan State University Community Garden ( circa 2019 ) Photo courtesy of purposes . Her future plans 11 ( 11 In environmentally sustainable projects in the Paul and areas and promoting greater access to healthier foods among Somali and other underrepresented populations in these areas . Additionally , is trying to reduce the impact of global pollution through the education and practice of simple behaviors , such as recycling , composting , and developing rainwater irrigation systems for garden sites .

CASE STUDIES IN COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE A GLOBAL LENS 47 Conclusion The benefits of community gardening can not be understated . Results of evaluations and studies offer clear evidence that community gardens provide numerous health benefits , improved access to food , related nutritional needs , and improved mental health . An important aspect that can be overlooked is its promotion of social health and community cohesion , both essential aspects of a healthy community . Read more at From Theory to Practice Reflections and Questions gardenIng and environmentally sustainable green space actIvitIes support fundamental principles shared by community psychologIsts In that they provIde opportunIties for dIverse groups of to work and establIsh a stronger sense of communIty Inclusion , engage In social change , and promote psychosocIal health ( 2015 ) Share with your classmates or others at least one other way , outsIde of formal educatIon , that can foster a sense of community , engagement In socIal change , and the promotIon of psychosocial health ?

ThIs case story mentIons that a challenge in doing social justIce work food has been In community stakeholders who are willing to help provide resources In the contInued development of green space activIties and community gardenIng programs . Consider and provide examples of how you might address thIs challenge . In additIon to physIological , what are some psychological influences of food on one sense of community ?

Note person centered in this chapter summary , name changed ) is aware that this chapter is being published and has provided her consent . Due to cultural restrictions of her native country ( she has requested to remain anonymous . References Africa Regional Overview of Food and Nutrition 2016 and Agriculture Org of the United Nations , Allen , 2010 ) Community gardening , neighborhood meetings , and social capital . of Community Psychology , 38 ( Fike , 2017 ) Greening social work education Teaching environmental rights and sustainability in community practice . journal of Social Work Education , 53 ( Carney , Nichols , Liu , Sanchez , Shannon , 2012 ) Impact of a community gardening project on vegetable intake , food security , and family relationships A participatory research study . journal of Community Health , 37 , 2015 ) Empowerment evaluation and community psychology An alignment of values and principles designed to improve the human condition . In Scott Wolfe ( Community psychology Foundations for practice . Sage Publications , Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( 2016 ) Retrieved from , 2014 ) wa ( The sweet taste of Africa ) The vegetable garden as part of resettled African refugees food environment . Nutrition Dietetics , 71 ,

48 SEE CONTRIBUTORS PAGE FOR LIST OF AUTHORS ( EDITED BY PALMER , TODD ROGERS , JUDAH VIOLA , AND ) Mason , 2016 ) Community gardens for refugees and immigrant communities as a means of health promotion . journal of Community Health , 41 , Jason , Keys , Taylor , Davis , 2004 ) Participatory community research Theory and methods in action . Washington , American Psychological Association . Allen , Gow , 2016 ) Associations between urban green space and related quality of life in children . Preventive Medicine Reports , 21 . A . 2011 ) Community gardening A parsimonious path to individual , community , and environmental resilience . American journal of Community Psychology , 47 , Woo , Bishop , Lombard , 2018 ) Gardening for health Patterns of gardening and fruit and vegetable consumption among the Navajo . journal of Community Health , 43 , Shava , 2010 ) Agricultural knowledge in urban and resettled communities Applications to resilience and environmental education . Environmental Education Research , Cox , Gaston , 2017 ) Health benefits of urban allotment gardening Improved physical and psychological and social integration . International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 14 ( er , Este , 2020 ) Are community gardening and horticultural interventions beneficial for psychosocial ?

A . International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 17 ( 10 ) 103384 , 2019 ) Does participating in community gardens promote sustainable lifestyles in urban settings ?

Design and protocol of the study . Public Health , 19 ( 589 ) Tracey , Gray , Sweeting , Bailey , 2020 ) A systematic review protocol to identify the key benefits and associated program characteristics of community gardening for Vulnerable populations . Research and Public Health , 17 ( Wilson , 2010 ) Towards understanding the new food environment for refugees from the Horn of Africa in , Health Place , 16 ,