My Experience with the Community Garden

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Throughout my experiences with the Community Garden, I have been consistently reminded of what service work was like for both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. The Community Garden, run through the Human Services Program of Carroll County, is maintained by local volunteers. Its purpose is two fold--not only does the garden provide food for local low-income families, it also gives these families a chance to cook with healthy ingredients.

There are many people without the funds or the means to eat healthy because healthy food tends to cost more than unhealthy foods. There are also “food deserts” which force people to eat unhealthy fast food because there are no healthy options close enough to be an option. Recent data has estimated that one in five Baltimore City residents live in food deserts. Westminster is no exception: there are many people who do not have the financial means to buy fruits and vegetables because they need to allocate their funds on other necessities of life, such as a place to live.

One aftereffect of not eating foods, such as fruits and vegetables is obesity. In fact, over the past three decades, the obesity rate among children has tripled. Even more astounding is the fact that nationally, close to 40% of African-American and Hispanic children are overweight, which is a population margin that is most affected by food deserts (“Let’s Move”) . If access to healthy food is not increased, obesity rates will only get worse.

According to the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County website, “[a] total of 68.9% of adults in the county are overweight or obese, and the trend is increasing. (Significant concern was expressed by African-American population members.) Specific data on local child/youth obesity is...

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...alcolm X placed both of their lives on the line every single day for a cause that meant the world to them. A quest speaker this semester,Walt Michaels, spoke briefly on his encounter with Martin Luther King. He stated that while he was on a plane, he noticed two serious looking men walk up and down the aisle. Then, Martin Luther King boarded the plane. Mr. Michaels noted that while he was in awe of someone he looked up to, he was also very scared because he knew that King was a target. Both Martin and Malcolm died by the hands of violence. Martin experienced a bombing at his home before he was shot and killed. My small experience, though scary, did not physically harm me. Martin and Malcolm experienced danger every single day of their lives. If they were not directly being threatened, they were hearing about other movement leaders being harmed or killed.

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