This document discusses a community garden initiative in Central Harlem aimed at improving access to healthy foods. The Carrie McCracken TRUCE Community Garden serves the local community and its 30 members. Research found community members interested in gardening but lacking resources, and wanting better access to affordable fresh foods. The initiative aims to address this through a seed planting event and tracking system to foster social connections and equal food access while building on the garden's success.

1. Seeds to Soil a grassroots gardening initiative in Central Harlem

2. Central Harlem 80% African American Also includes many Caribbean and Senegalese immigrants Undergoing revitalization after decades of high crime and drugs Issue: Health problems including those related to poor diets and limited access to fresh healthy affordable foods

3. Carrie McCracken TRUCE Community Garden Located at St. Nicholas & 117-118 St. Public space, open to anyone About 30 members Entering its third gardening season Recently became official NYC Parks

4. Target Audience Community surrounding Carrie McCracken TRUCE Community Garden in Central Harlem interested in improved access to healthy, fresh foods Interested in engaging with other community members Interested in gardening or learning to garden

5. User Research Surveyed community members and stakeholders (partner organizations) Interviewed key stakeholders including garden members Interviewed neighbors including those unfamiliar with garden

6. Research Findings Some community members didn’t realize there was a garden are interested in gardening, but they don’t have the space or resources Many community members have cultural roots strongly rooted in outdoors and being in touch with the land wish they had better access to fresh foods, particularly affordable ones wanted to engage more with fellow community members use email and internet Garden members many of them grew up gardening enjoy being connected with nature view the garden as common ground regardless of race and socio-economic backgrounds

7. Closing the Food Gap by Mark Winne “...it has been proven worthwhile for communities to make a public commitment to providing land, horticultural training, soil and compost, and other means of support to enable people who want to garden to do so... Doing so affords them the opportunity to come together in community to grow”

8. Geddes McCracken Garden member Avid gardener from Trinidad Active in community Knowledgeable and willing to help others in community learn to garden

9. Marlene Central Harlem resident Lives with a few blocks but didn’t know about this garden Loves to eat vegetables but things they are expensive and not necessarily fresh at the store Wants to grow her own vegetables butbeen able to start

10. Planting + People from same community Seeds to Soil Planting Event Seeds to Soil seedTracking GO TO: TRACKING.S2S.ORG CODENAME: MILES05 ROLE: RECEIVER // GIVER McCracken Garden

11. Posting tracking.seedstosoil.org

12. Precedents Leah Gauthier’s Sow-In Where’s George

13. Goals Provide equal access to fresh affordable food to community members Grow awareness for and access to affordable and healthy foods in Central Harlem Foster greater social connectedness in this community

14. Intervention Design Provide access with seed planting event Group reinforces commitment and accountability No barriers to entry for garden Gardening guidance Simple tracking system which supports community dialogue Subject around which community can come together Follow up events

15. Intervention Concerns Hope it doesn’t rain! People will not engage with tracking site Reaching beyond current garden members