Food insecurity affects a large number of community members across the Crossroads. Many citizens do not have access to sufficient, high quality food. Residents of Victoria, and its surrounding counties, struggle without access to the necessary amount of food required to meet their needs.
The Victoria òòò½ÊÓƵ Public Health Department offers local residents access to fresh produce at no cost through their free community garden. Located at the Pattie Dodson Center, the garden tackles food insecurity by providing free produce throughout the year.
The garden was first started in 2016 and funded with the Texas Healthy Communities grant, awarded by the Department of State Health Services. The grant aimed to improve healthy eating and physical activity in the community.
Although the garden had seen lapses of dormancy through the years, it has been maintained continuously for the community for the last three years. The garden has been utilized by around 150 community members this season, Ashley Cano, Victoria òòò½ÊÓƵ Public Health Department community engagement programs manager, said.
Citizens can presently collect fresh cabbage, collards and kale from the garden. The garden also has onions and garlic currently growing, but these items are not yet ready to be collected and can not be picked up.
The fight against food insecurity has been the driving force behind maintaining the free community garden. According to the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, 17.2 percent of residents across the organizationòòò½ÊÓƵ™s 11 county service area face food insecurity.
òòò½ÊÓƵœFood insecurity has been an issue as it directly correlates with public health,òòò½ÊÓƵ Cano said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIt has increasingly become a concern of our communities and of people who do not have access to fresh produce.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The community garden has had an educational impact on the community as well. Many residents visit the garden to learn how to start their own personal garden, Cano said. The community garden acts as a pilot garden for many community members.
Citizens will ask questions about best gardening practices and share their experiences regarding how theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve utilized the free produce and how theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve started their own home gardens.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWhile we maintain [the garden], we are by no means gardeners,òòò½ÊÓƵ Cano said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe have gone about this just as a trial and error [system]. We are always open to people coming and helping us maintain it, whether it be through pulling out weeds, instructing on the best times of year [for certain produce], or overall maintenance and watering of the garden.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The garden operates throughout the year, growing different produce depending on the time of year. From leafy greens in the winter to ripe tomatoes in the late spring, the Victoria òòò½ÊÓƵ Public Health Department free community garden offers delicious produce and fights food insecurity year-round.
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