More Community Gardens and Access to Local, Organic Groceries Needed in the Powellhurst Gilbert Neighborhood of Portland, Oregon

Fresh Veggies, Fresh Gardens

The factors barring health in the neighborhoods near the business sectors of 82^nd Avenue in the North Western sector of the Powellhurst-Gilbert in Portland, Oregon are many. Access to healthy food within walking distance is one. Many residents have lower income in this area and walk or use public transit. Access to healthy land in which to grow one’s own produce is another factor. This area is a veritable food desert with little access to grocery stores and fresh produce markets. Many residents attempt to grow vegetables in cramped plots near their home. However, the plots are right next to roads and cars which release toxic chemicals into the surrounding soil. There is a need for easier access to produce and groceries as well as access to a healthy place to grow vegetables. Specifically, what would improve the health of this area are more community gardens within reasonable walking distance and a local produce grocer similar to local companies like The Portland Fruit Co. at SE 82^nd and Foster and Morrow Brothers Produce in Happy Valley, OR. 

Within the past years two large grocery stores, Safeway at 101 SE 82^nd Avenue and Food 4 Less at 7979 SE Powell Boulevard, offering a variety of food items culturally appropriate for part of the ethnically diverse population closed their doors recently. This has left many residents without a close source of food other than convenience stores and fast food restaurants. Walmart is close by in the Eastport Plaza, but does not offer many Organic or local choices. There is no Organic or local milk for example. Organic and local food is gaining popularity steadily as the public gains more education about healthy food choices. The Fubonn Grocery Store at 2850 SE 82^nd Avenue does not offer American fare basics such as milk and eggs but does cater to the needs of a large Asian population living in this area. There is a small non Asian ethnic market, ABC Produce at 9151 SE Powell Blvd., but some residents do not feel comfortable going into a grocer where English is not the first language and the foods are mostly unfamiliar. A neighborhood resident, Tom, says he shopped at Safeway for 25 years and then it closed. He now drives down to Fred Meyer, 1.7 miles away.

Residents are attempting to grow vegetables and fruits next to their homes and in any small square of land they can despite the vehicular pollution and runoff on roads that soaks the neighboring soil with toxins. In an article http://www.new-ag.info/en/focus/focusItem.php?a=177

written in July 2007 based on an assessment of heavy metals in roadside soils and vegetables in Uganda, part of a research team, Grace Nabulo says, "Heavy metals should be acknowledged as a potential health risk in urban agriculture and research on chemical contamination is vital in guiding policy and planning." "Ultimately authorities must find the right balance between benefits and health risks presented by urban farming, if they are to achieve productive and sustainable cities."

Although car fuels are not leaded in the United States as they are in Uganda, our vehicles produce abundant non point pollution which is carried into our water systems like rivers and the ocean before passing through soil leaving some residue. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mentions many sources of non point pollution carried by runoff and dangers it poses to our drinking water. http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/roads.html

It was difficult to find roadside pollutant research from the U.S. specifically regarding vegetables grown for harvest.

According to the Portland Parks and Recreation

Map at website http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/342030 the ratios for Portland Community gardens need versus availability are shown. The highest need is in central SE Portland close in toward the Willamette River. There are gardens with only 23 plots, but 110 people on the waiting list. In other places, the waitlist ratio is 154 people wanting 88 plots, 102 people wanting 31 plots and so on. The desire for plots is a little lower in my area but there is still a need. Ed Benedict Garden is 1.5 miles from my area at SE 104^th and Bush St. and the Lents Garden at SE 88^th and Steele is 1.9 miles away. Ed Benedit has 18 plots with 5 people on the waiting list. That’s 5 people who possibly will not be able to grow fresh produce this year until/if a plot opens next year. Lents has 32 plots and 30 people are waiting for them. Portland has 47 community gardens in all, among those, there are 15 which have a 3 year waiting list. http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/39846

There is obviously a need for more community gardens. There is a lot of unused land in this part of the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.

The neighborhoods surrounding SE 82^nd Ave in Portland Oregon are clearly affected by the businesses holding court there. There are many run down business properties that have not been utilized for many years. I suggest that the City of Portland enact a temporary Eminent Domain whereby a plot of land can be borrowed for community gardens. A tax break to the property owner during this time could be given to soften the situation. Public Schools could open community gardens on a corner of their wide expanses of land. Small produce markets could be given incentives and encouraged, heavily to join the neighborhood. This area is being ignored by the city and has had it’s soul sold to big business. We need to take back the land!