Courtesy of Prairie View A&M University
Food insecurity remains a pressing issue, with reports revealing that 1 in 5 families in the greater Houston area struggle to access sufficient food. This challenge extends to college campuses nationwide, where 40% of students regularly face difficulties in obtaining healthy, nutritious meals, according to the World Health Organization.
At Prairie View A&M University, the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Student Garden Club (CAFNR SGC) has been at the forefront of combating food insecurity. For years, the SGC has cultivated vegetables, including mustard, turnip, and collard greens, to supply fresh produce to both the PVAMU community and local residents.
This year, the club expanded its efforts by introducing the innovative concept of “Foodscaping.” This initiative integrates edible plants into ornamental landscaping, transforming planter boxes and nursery beds into sources of fresh, organically grown produce. They are visible in front of the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center and the Agriculture and Business Multipurpose Building.
“This ensures access to nutritious, locally sourced food and strengthens social connections,” shared SGC members and PVAMU students Jalin Freeman and Kerrington Thompson. “It is a great way for CAFNR to address food insecurity in our community and empower each other and students who attend PVAMU through shared responsibility and collective well-being.”
During the holidays, the SGC partnered with the PVAMU Food Security Research Center to donate over ten pounds of fresh herbs and greens harvested from the Foodscaping Project. The club aims to broaden its impact by collaborating with other organizations on campus to promote the adoption of planter boxes across the PVAMU campus, fostering greater awareness of agriculture’s vital role in everyday life. “We are excited about interacting with other student organizations who are interested in enhancing the [already] beautiful landscape on our campus,” Freeman and Thompson said.
SGC co-advisors Dr. Richard Griffin and Dr. Laura Carson both expressed their gratitude to Dr. Gerard D’Souza, dean of CAFNR, Dr. Erdogan Memili, executive associate directorfor CARC,andotherCAFNRExecutiveLeadershipTeam members. Their collective efforts underscore the value of experiential learning opportunities, which not only address immediate community needs but also instill a sense of social responsibility in students, preparing them for future success.
