By Chris Romo for South Kern Sol
BAKERSFIELD – About a year ago, the City of Bakersfield offered a plot of land in southeast Bakersfield to the Greenfield Walking Group, to plant a community garden. The fifteen group members took on the challenge, and this summer they had their first harvest. Now, residents say they are beginning to see and feel the positive impact the garden project is having on their neighborhood.
“This garden is giving us fresh vegetables and is making me want to eat healthier now,” says Andres Romero, a 14-year-old volunteer.
Even though most of the volunteers during the garden’s first year were adults, there is hope to engage more young people like Romero in the coming year. The group is specifically targeting young children in an attempt to put a halt to the youth obesity epidemic, by teaching them about gardening and healthy eating.
“The reason we built this garden was to teach kids lessons they can use for the rest of their life,” says Jose Pinto, a member of the Greenfield Walking Group. He added that he wishes to teach youth that hard work pays off.
“We all worked hard, especially Gema Perez, to see this [garden] grow, and now it’s nice to be rewarded with fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Jose Pinto.
Read more at South Kern Sol
