Louisville launches Urban Agriculture Program aimed at creating community gardens in city's food deserts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The city of Louisville is trying to give more people in vulnerable areas access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

At Emerson Park in the Schnitzelburg neighborhood, the seeds are being planted in an area that was considered a food desert.

For the years, the people living in Schnitzelburg have not had access to a neighborhood grocery store with fresh fruits and vegetables, so, now, they are growing their own.

"It's been so hot, you got to water almost every day," Alfonzo O'Bannon, who lives in the area, said. "As far as getting fresh fruits around here, you had to go to Kroger, nothing else."

For the last several years, O'Bannon and some of his neighbors have been growing their own fresh fruits and vegetables at a community garden in Emerson Park.

"Squash, snow peas, tomatoes, onions, greens. You know that variety," O'Bannon said.

O'Bannon has what most would consider a green thumb. His neighbor, Kelly Drescher, however, is a beginner.

"I'm absolutely novice," Drescher said. "I'm always learning from everyone, every year I do something wrong."

Drescher and O'Bannon are just two of the neighbors growing fresh produce at the community garden in Emerson Park.

"It's clear that this issue is important to the people of Louisville," Mayor Craig Greenberg said.

Tuesday, Greenberg helped launch Metro Government's first Urban Agriculture Program. The goal is to create community gardens in parks across the city, providing fresh produce to people living in food deserts.

"There's about four in other parks and recreation locations, and we absolutely hope to grow that. We want to see more spaces like this that are active and just really serving our community," said Michelle King, executive director of Louisville Parks and Recreations.

King, who was recently appointed to her position, said the community gardens are just part of what's being done to eliminate food deserts in the city.

And for those who don't have a green thumb

"You got to try, it'll come green. It will become green, if you just try," O'Bannon said.

The community gardens are about neighbors helping neighbors.

"We all learn from each other. And everyone is willing to teach you how to use a tool that you've never seen before, and people donate tools that we can all use and share," Drescher said.

The community gardens are open to anyone who wants to come and do the work.