Column: Garden provides learning, nutrition

自1985年以来, 帕洛阿尔托 大学 has been a pillar of the South Side, supporting our community with access to quality higher education. The academic programs we offer have helped build an educated workforce that support the needs of local industries 和 build our economy.

圣安东尼奥's 关闭 proximity to rural South Texas farming 和 ranching communities has supported the growth of 帕洛阿尔托 大学's Agriculture 和 Horticulture programs. Students enrolled in these programs not only benefit from top-tier faculty in the classroom, but also h和s-on experiential learning outside of the classroom that prepares them for real-world scenarios.

10月. 28, we officially opened the 帕洛阿尔托 大学 Community Garden, which seeks to benefit both the student population 和 the surrounding community. To support experiential learning, students from the Agriculture 和 Horticulture programs will conduct monthly workshops on Saturdays to teach community members how to plant, 维护, 和 harvest the produce in the garden.

The neighborhoods surrounding 帕洛阿尔托 大学 are considered a "food desert" — an area lacking access to healthy, affordable food found at grocery stores, farmers markets, 和 healthy food providers. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food deserts are most often in underserved communities, such as south 圣安东尼奥.

Similar to checking out a book from the library, the Community Garden contains plots which anyone from the community can check out 和 grow produce of their choice. When it comes time to harvest, community members can either keep the produce for themselves or donate it to the 大学's food pantry.

By providing increased access to nutritious, affordable food, our hope is that the Community Garden helps combat nutrition-related chronic health issues.
For more information, contact the 大学's S.H.A.R.E. Center at 210-486-3121.

This column by Dr. 罗伯特·加尔萨, president of 帕洛阿尔托 大学, was originally published in the 圣安东尼奥 Express-新闻' Southside Reporter 和 mysanantonio.com.