Mabel Wilson has one of the oldest community gardens in Syracuse, N.Y.
And that’s something she’s proud about.
“I grow collard greens, peppers, grapes, Swiss chard, cauliflower, okra, spinach, lettuce and the list goes on,” says a boastful Wilson. “I love the work that I do. It’s been very rewarding.”
The 61-year-old took up gardening as a hobby when she was a youngster growing up in New Jersey, but now she thinks it’s almost a necessity, particularly in urban areas where locals sometimes find that they can’t afford the exorbitant food prices.
“We get a chance to help people keep money in their pockets and help them stretch their dollars,” says Wilson. “Plus there is a nutritional value. Childhood diabetes has become a big issue, particularly among African-American children.”
Wilson is co-chairman of Syracuse Grows, a grassroots coalition of individuals who work to cultivate a just foodscape across the City of Syracuse. The group provides advocacy, programming, education and resources to support food justice and community development through gardening and urban agriculture.
And their biggest supporter is Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, which has directed resources to the group, including a community geographer who has assisted communities in examining land-use data and food-access statistics across the city.
