For the past couple of weeks, I participated in the “Aim High” program. Here, I was taught about gardening, food justice, and the use of food scraps, specifically in locations like Southeast Queens, which do not have much access to fresh food.
One recurring topic during the program has been the importance of composting food scraps. Schools have always told us that composting was important, and would share examples of compostable food items. But they never really went into much detail, and many people did not care to learn more. “Aim High” expanded my knowledge on composting, going into detail as to how the process really works, as well as its importance. They also explained the need to compost in communities of color. Because these communities tend to have less access to fresh foods, composting makes it so food that would normally be wasted is repurposed into new crops that people can get from the garden. Learning about the importance of this topic has also inspired my family to start composting occasionally as well.
Being a part of this program also introduced the importance of having locations like “Garden of Resilience”, especially in locations like Southeast Queens. There is a lack of accessible grocery stores for these residents, meaning the majority of food locations are either restaurants or fast food locations. The people living here are being deprived of fresh food. But gardens like “Garden of Resilience” are able to combat this injustice by being a source of healthier food options that are easy to reach. Community gardens allow people to take the food they need, so people will not have to take further trips to eat healthy. This garden is also one of the only locations in the area with a food scrap drop off location stop. Having scrap bins means the food has a new purpose in growing new crops, meaning less waste and overall helping the environment.
Southeast Queens is already making moves to put an end to food injustice in the community by having these gardens available. Creating new locations will also allow more people to get the fresh food they need. However, the community also needs to fight back for new legislation to be created. People need to ask their local electives to bring up these topics when discussing change in Queens. Having politicians who bring up and care about these issues will make change more probable. Southeast Queens can flourish with grocery stores with enough support from the community.
Overall, “Aim High” was a fun experience that gave me an opportunity to learn more about these important topics. I will continue to learn more about food justice and gardening after this program.
