The Pulaski Conservation District in Arkansas, in collaboration with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), is leading a groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling food insecurity in urban areas through community-driven urban agriculture. This program focuses on building partnerships, educating the community, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to create lasting food security, particularly in areas identified as food deserts.

In addition to its work with UALR students, the Pulaski Conservation District has forged strong partnerships with local organizations like Children International and Apple Seeds to further their impact. Children’s International, which has a facility in the Oak Forest neighborhood, runs a summer camp each year for middle school-aged youth. As part of their health and nutrition segment, the conservation district teamed up with Apple Seeds, a nonprofit focused on local food systems and better nutrition through healthy eating, to host a special 3-day garden camp at the Oak Forest Community Garden.

This camp offered 48 kids a unique, hands-on experience in gardening, where they learned about the vegetables growing in the garden and how those plants connect to nutrition and healthy eating. The kids participated in harvesting produce and then used it to make healthy snacks like smoothies and salsa. Apple Seeds’ program dovetailed perfectly with Children’s International’s educational focus, reinforcing the importance of nutrition in a fun and interactive way. This collaborative event not only promoted healthy eating but also deepened the community’s engagement with local food production, creating a tangible link between urban agriculture and health education.

The partnership between the Pulaski Conservation District and UALR extends far beyond food production, it serves as a critical learning platform for both students and the broader community. As part of this initiative, seven students were hired to collaborate with district staff, board members, and local partners in managing several community gardens across Pulaski County. These gardens, situated in areas facing food insecurity, are central to the project’s mission of educating residents about sustainable farming practices while increasing access to fresh, nutritious food.

Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Pulaski County, where 13% of households, or about 53,400 individuals, struggle to secure adequate nutrition. For the student ambassadors, interacting with food banks and food-insecure residents was an eye-opening experience. This firsthand exposure to the daily challenges faced by these communities not only deepened the students’ understanding of local hunger issues but also had a profound emotional impact, strengthening their commitment to making a meaningful difference. By working with these gardens, they help empower the community and contribute to the fight against food insecurity.

The program doesn’t stop at food production. It incorporates lessons on soil health, livestock management, and the growth of culturally significant crops, ensuring the community is equipped with the knowledge and tools to sustain their gardens. Educational workshops also covered vital topics like Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the importance of pollinator habitats, and the benefits of companion planting. One standout lesson was on container gardening, which demonstrated that even those with limited space could grow their own food. Cooking classes helped participants understand how to use their garden harvests to prepare nutritious meals, further empowering them to take control of their food security.

Participants noted the transformative nature of the program, with one member reflecting: “After a year of working the ground, there are three things I realize that I didn’t before. One is the significant level of food insecurity in my own community; two is the challenges of growing my own food; and three is the sense of accomplishment it gave me.”

The program’s success is rooted in strong partnerships at both the local and national levels. Beyond working with UALR, Children’s International, and Apple Seeds, the Pulaski Conservation District also received crucial support from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Urban and Community Grant. This grant allowed the district to work directly with community gardens in the county to improve their soil health and educate the community about conservation practices.

In addition, the district developed a resource manual that included 23 pages of direct links to websites and web documents providing information on siting/operating urban agriculture projects, technical assistance in managing soil health, disease, and pests, and growing tips for specialty crops. These materials, easy to use and widely accessible, further helped individuals and communities become more self-sufficient in their food production efforts.

The ultimate vision of this initiative is to create a model that can be scaled statewide. The Pulaski Conservation District and its partners aim to demonstrate that urban agriculture can not only combat food insecurity but also promote environmental stewardship and community resilience. This initiative has already begun making waves, encouraging staff at UALR to begin the process of developing a certification program in urban agriculture, thus equipping future leaders with the skills and knowledge to expand this work across Arkansas.

Through its partnerships with UALR, Children’s International, Apple Seeds, and the wider community, the Pulaski Conservation District is setting an example for the entire state. By combining education, conservation, and community involvement, this initiative is creating a future where food security is accessible to all and urban agriculture is seen as a powerful tool for positive change.