Updated May 7th, 2021
Get in the garden to celebrate Minority Health Month
Heads up! This article was last updated 3 years ago.
On the heels of National Gardening Day, which was April 14, MetroParks celebrated all things growing with Leah Bahan-Harris, the general manager of the soon-to-open Gem City Market. April is also National Minority Health Month, a great reason to take a deeper look at access to community assets that support equitable health, from public programs to parks.
The Gem City Market will be the first full-service grocer in west Dayton in six years, creating more access to fresh and nutritious produce. The opening of the Gem City Market will put a dent in the challenges presented by food insecurity for those living in the area and beyond.
“Food relates to our basic needs,” said Bahan-Harris. “If we don’t eat, it effects our physical and mental wellness.”
Indeed, access to fresh food can help create healthier lifestyles, but for many it’s not as simple as driving to a local grocer. According to the CDC, low-income and minority communities often lack convenient places that offer affordable, healthy foods.
West Dayton is considered a food desert, an area where there is very limited access to fresh, affordable food. However, those at the Gem City Market working toward food justice prefer the term “food apartheid,” as it emphasized a conscience, human impact rather than presenting the lack of access as naturally occurring.
“Change really starts when we look at understanding the true situation of what’s going on,” Bahan-Harris said. “We can also acknowledge that this is human-made and then reverse the process.”
Because access to fresh, affordable food directly affects one’s health, Bahan-Harris encourages everyone to shop for their produce in a way that supports small businesses and local communities, and also to think about growing your own.
A chef and farmer by trade, Bahan-Harris has spent time cooking and growing food across the country, from Colorado to Columbus, Ohio. Her applied knowledge of growing food, sustainability and community gives her a unique perspective on the opportunities growing your own food provides people and their communities.
“Growing food in general is nourishing,” said Bahan-Harris. “It gives you a sense of pride to know where your food comes from and trust that your hands directly handled your food.”
Beyond a hobby, gardening can be incorporated into your self-care routine, as it gets you moving and can help you decompress.
“You get sun (Vitamin D), and it’s a low impact workout,” she said. “Gardening doesn’t always mean a big bed; you can grow in small pots.”
She also recommends gardening as good physical activity for those of all ages, from kids to older adults.
Bahan-Harris also thinks it’s a great opportunity for parents to introduce new foods to their kids. She recommends introducing new fruits and veggies in baby steps and finding different ways to present them. Try offering your kiddos raw veggies with no additional seasoning and go from there.
Get ready to garden:
In celebration of National Gardening Day, MetroParks shared some tips, tricks and where to find gardening inspiration in your MetroParks.
- For more tips on how to grow your own food, sign up for MetroParks’ gardening newsletters at metroparks.org and follow MetroParks’ Earth to Table Facebook at facebook.com/communitygardening.
- Those who want to stick to the store for fresh produce can visit the 2nd Street Market’s outdoor Market, 600 E. Second St. in downtown Dayton and open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as the soon-to-open Gem City Market. Both locations offer EBT/SNAP benefits and Produce Perks, though the Market’s EBT/SNAP exchange is on temporary hold. Visit metroparks.org/localfood for info about the 2nd Street Market.
- If you wish to garden and don’t have the space, consider renting a gardening plot at Possum Creek MetroPark. Visit metroparks.org/community-gardening for details.
From Earth to Table
Gardening is a fun way to taste new things and create new dishes that picky eaters may find tasty. Visit facebook.com/communitygardening for plenty of recipes that incorporate your garden’s bounty into your meals.
Upon opening, the Gem City Market will offer health and wellness programs in its clinic, teaching kitchen and community room. Stay tuned by following Gem City Market Health & Wellness on Facebook and Instagram, and visiting gemcitymarket.com.
