34th-street-community-garden4
34th-street-community-garden4

Gulfport, Mississippi

34th Street Wholistic Gardens and Education Center

The 34th Street Wholistic Gardens & Education Center in Gulfport, MS was established in 2016 by founder and executive director James L. Franklin to address food deserts and food insecurities and promote environmental education among the vulnerable. The federal government defines food deserts as “areas that lack access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk and other foods that make up the full range of a healthy diet.” A food desert can be in an urban area, where only convenience and liquor stores are within walking distance or in rural areas where the nearest supermarket is at least 10 miles away. The Gardens’ goal is to make the MS Gulf Coast Region’s food healthy again by offering a purposefully designed organic and hydroponic wellness park that allows people of all ages and cultures to grow healthy foods and participate in activities that promote health, wellness and good stewardship of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region.

Volunteers at the 34th Street Community Garden (Photo courtesy of the 34th Street Community Garden and Education Center)

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a vibrant region, home to many diverse cultures. However, its location exposes the area to the natural challenges of floods, high winds and storms. One of those storms, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, devastated communities and exacerbated an issue that is still ongoing for some – the increase of food deserts and access to nutritious foods and grocery stores. To help alleviate this issue, the Gardens provides workshops, training and seminars through outdoor classrooms, a year-round Environmental Earth Youth Club and a summer youth camp to educate and motivate the community about gardening, healthy eating and the environment. The Gardens comprises a diverse group of volunteers from communities across the Mississippi Gulf Coast that includes master and beginner gardeners, representatives from educational institutions and residents from surrounding communities.

Volunteers working in the garden (Photo courtesy of the 34th Street Community Garden and Education Center)

Contact
James L. Franklin, Founder and Executive Director
Climate impacts
Drought, Flooding, Heat, Hurricanes/Tropical Storms
Strategies
Community Farm/Gardens, Community Land Trusts/Land Conservation, Community Organizing and Education, Direct Relief and Aid, Green Infrastructure, Nature-Based Solutions, Policy Reform, Political activism, including protests, petitions, and lobbying
Environmental Justice Concerns
Air Pollution, Fighting Development/Destruction of Wildlife/Extinction of Species, Fracking/Oil and Gas Development/Pipelines, Groundwater Contamination, Hazardous/Toxic Sites, Incinerator/Dumping/Landfill, Industrial Agriculture/Animal Waste, Sewage/Sewage Treatment, Superfund Sites
501c3 Tax Deductible
Yes
Accepting Donation
Yes