Community gardening organizations and health advocates have lauded community gardens as a means to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in urban food deserts. A review of the literature about community gardens reveals that there are links between health and community gardening, but they may not be what you think.

A panel will explore this topic for “What’s Really Growing in Community Gardens?”, part of the Community Partnership Project Seminar Series at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The discussion will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday (May 1) in 402 J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center at UMSL. The event is free and open to the public with free parking available in Lot C.

Panelists will include:

• Tracy Greever Rice, interim director of the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis at the University of Missouri–Columbia
• Jill Lucht, research associate in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at MU
• Michael Sorth, Gateway Greening
• Dwayne James, councilman in Ferguson, Mo.
• Julie Birkenmaier, Chouteau’s Garden, Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood in St. Louis

Call 314-516-6392 or email lubischerk@umsl.edu for more information.