Unearthing Franklinton's Potential: Cultivating a Vibrant Foodscape

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2019-04

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Abstract

The authors will highlight some results of a three-year endeavor with Franklinton Farms to improve healthy food access through a neighborhood Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, strengthen community self-reliance, and inspire community empowerment through cooking classes and workshops on nutrition, food processing, and leadership, engage residents in different parts of the food system, preserve land for urban agriculture, and create inviting urban farm spaces. More than 100 households have participated in the CSA, and many have participated in our pre- and post-season surveys. Specifically, we will share about participants’ (including the 50 percent who are low-income, paying half price) experiences using quantitative and qualitative data related to food security, dietary patterns, sense of community, and food access.

Description

This presentation will highlight some results of a three-year endeavor with Franklinton Farms to improve healthy food access through a neighborhood community supported agriculture (CSA) program, strengthen community self-reliance and inspire community empowerment through cooking classes and workshops on nutrition, food processing, and leadership, engage residents in different parts of the food system, preserve land for urban agriculture, and create inviting urban farm spaces. The Franklinton neighborhood (Census Tracts 30, 32, 40, 42, 43, 50, 51) is an impoverished urban Appalachian neighborhood of 10,000 people on the near-west side of Columbus, Ohio plagued by low educational attainment, drugs, housing decay, historical disinvestment, and consequential obesity, food insecurity, chronic diet-related disease, and high infant mortality rates. 1-4 Health and wellness are a serious problem in the neighborhood as access to adequate health care and a healthy food environment is difficult to realize for residents. An Ohio State Food Mapping Team (FMT) surveyed 74 Franklinton residents in 2014. Of those who were interviewed, 44.4 percent reported high blood pressure, 34.7 percent reported high cholesterol, 18.1 percent reported pre-diabetes, and 13.5 percent reported Type II Diabetes. Underlying many of these issues are the high rates of poverty and high rates of food insecurity. The FMT found that 60.5 percent of all participants were food insecure (low and very low food secure combined); and 31 percent were very low food secure. Access to healthy, fresh food is hampered by the lack of a full-service grocery store in or near Franklinton. At least 30 percent of households do not have a vehicle. Restricted access to transportation means that residents buy their food at corner stores (49 percent), fast food outlets (77 percent), and dollar stores (58 percent). FMT survey participants stated that nutrition (89 percent) and price (91 percent) were important aspects of their food purchasing decisions, while 38 percent were not satisfied with being able to access the food they wanted and did not find it easy to find fresh produce. Barriers to food choices included price, transportation, and distance to the food store. This presentation will highlight the results of the CSA portion of the project, in addition to challenges experience and opportunities for learning if other groups are interested in such a project. We have had more than 100 households participate in the CSA and many have participated in our pre- and post-season surveys. Specifically, we will share about participants’ (including the 50 percent who are low-income, paying half price) experiences using quantitative and qualitative data related to food security, dietary patterns, sense of community, and food access. Additional partners have included the Ohio State College of Social Work, AmeriCorps VISTA, Mount Carmel Healthy Living Center, and Local Matters.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Michelle Kaiser, associate professor, Ohio State College of Social Work, kaiser.267@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Nick Stanich, executive director, Franklinton Farms

Keywords

community food security, food access, urban farm

Citation

Engaged Scholars, v. 7 (2019).