Vincent Academy Gardening and Nutrition Program

The purpose of the Vincent Academy Garden and Nutrition program is to introduce students to the joys of gardening and to develop healthy eating habits and awareness at an early age. West Oakland is considered a food desert and most families do not have access to affordable, healthy produce within the community. Therefore, many nutrition-related health problems plague community members of all ages. Obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes are common conditions for poor families living in this community. Our goals are to teach students and their families how to grow and cook fresh produce in the school community garden. In addition to growing, our program provides a weekly cooking demonstration along with a group meal. The program is sponsored by City Slicker Farms. During the warmer months, students visit the farm every Wednesday to deepen their experience. Students learn how to propagate, compost, harvest, clean, and cook vegetables. Students also learn to care for the 26 chickens at the farm.