NC 5 A Day Success Stories

2007 N.C. Fruits & Veggies Nutrition Coalition Symposium,
August 8, 2007, Johnson & Wales University—Charlotte NC

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2007 NC Fruits & Veggies Star Awards Announced

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2006 North Carolina 5 A Day Symposium & Excellence Awards Ceremony: New Day & Way for North Carolina 5 A Day Program

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Posted August 13, 2006

2006 N.C. 5 A Day State Excellence Awards Announced

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Growing a Healthy Community:
The impact of a garden on an inner-city community

Growing a Healthy Community The Community Garden Initiative of Wilmington, NC, has improved access to fruits and vegetables for inner-city residents. Inner-city Wilmington has few grocery stores, leaving many residents to shop at small convenient stores with limited, if any, selection of fruits and vegetables.

The Community Garden Initiative started with about 25 residents of three inner-city neighborhoods who helped plant a garden in the fall of 2006. It was a project of Cape Fear Healthy Carolinians, Obesity Prevention Initiative, and funding was provided by Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. Other partners, who provided additional support and in-kind donations, included the Wilmington Housing Authority, New Hanover County Cooperative Extension, Northside Resource Center, the Food Bank, the Tidal Creek Cooperative Market, and UNC-Wilmington.

The planning process for the Community Garden Initiative involved locating a space for the garden and recruiting community members to participate as gardeners. It also involved the planning of a program curriculum, which provided educational classes to participants on gardening and preparing healthy foods.

Growing a Healthy Community Results collected in December 2006 proved the fall 2006 garden to be a huge success! Pre- and post-tests showed that over 25 residents who helped with the garden gained knowledge about healthy eating, the importance of fruits and vegetables in their diet, and the importance of physical activity. Furthermore, they gained a sense of community pride and respect by participating in the Initiative.

What happened next? The Community Garden Initiative in Wilmington continued! A spring garden was planted in May 2007. Community residents helped plan a kick-off event and volunteered to work in the summer garden. Patio gardens were provided to individuals who could not access the larger garden regularly.

Congratulations to all leaders and participants of the Wilmington Community Garden Initiative! Thank you for inspiring us as we work to promote fruits and vegetables across North Carolina.

Contact Information:
Alison Saville, Coordinator
Leah Yetter, Health Educator
UNC-Wilmington
601 S. College Rd.
Mailbox 5614
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: 910-962-7964
Fax: 910-962-3096
Website: www.capefearhealthycarolinians.org

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Your Success Stories Wanted!

The NC Fruits & Veggies Nutrition Coalition wants to hear from YOU about the work you’ve done to create policy and environmental change in your community, church, WIC Program, school, child care facility, etc. The success story can focus on fruits and veggies, healthy eating, or both!

Please email us with YOUR success story for inclusion on the web!

You can download the following document for submission guidelines (available in Word and Adobe PDF)

Success Story Guidelines