This online exhibit for Professor Heather Bedi’s Environmental and Social Justice class allows Dickinson College students to reflect on environmental injustices and demographic trends in their neighborhood, town, city, or state. In defining just sustainabilities, Agyeman et al. (2003) argue that social and economic inequalities across place exacerbate environmental injustices. They advocate for human equality to be central in sustainability efforts. Students explore (un) just sustainabilities in their place through a paper and a publicly exhibited zero-waste visual or audio project.

School Gardens in Gwinnett County, Georgia

 

School gardens can serve as a great way to combat food insecurity and facilitate community outreach. In my place, Gwinnett County in the metro Atlanta area, school gardens are rising in popularity due to the educational aspect and increased concern about food security. Studies show that students who have a garden at school have healthier eating habits and greater access to fruits and vegetables. Gardens add variety to children’s diets which increases their overall health. Schools allow for students and parents to come to the garden after hours and collect fresh vegetables and herbs which fosters a school community and allows for even greater access to healthy foods. After mapping school gardens in Gwinnett County, I found that gardens are not clustered in high-income, white areas, but they are evenly distributed throughout the county because of the school locations. This means that regardless of income or race, students have increased access to healthy food. Therefore, I conclude that community gardens in my place is a just sustainability because the distribution of gardens is about the same, regardless of income or race.

~ Sarah P.

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