Cultivating Integration: Urban Farming on a Medical University Campus: The MUSC Urban Farm Is Designed to Be a Living Classroom Where Students, Faculty, Staff, and the Community Come Together to Explore the Connection between Food and Health

INTRODUCTION CHRONIC DISEASE is rapidly diminishing the health of our nation as rates of serious physical and psychological conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and emotional stress continue to rise. Many of these illnesses are worsened by obesity, which is linked to low levels of physical activity and poor eating habits, in particular the over consumption of fat and sugar and inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables. The urban agricultural movement is one strategy that has demonstrated promise in combating the increasing costs of chronic disease related to poor health behaviors. Community gardens can improve nutritional status; increase the physical activity, community engagement, safety, and economic strength of a neighborhood and its residents; and provide environmental benefits to the community at large. COMMUNITY GARDENS There exists a long history of the use of community gardens to improve health, and the benefits of these gardens are widely documented. Early uses focused on food production in response to war, economic depression, and other social conditions. More recently, a broader urban agricultural movement has emerged with increased benefits related to social, economic, health, and educational concerns (Hynes and Howe 2004). A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health (Zick et al. 2013) found that people who participate in community gardening have a significantly lower body mass index than those who do not. Gardening is a recommended form of moderate physical activity that can encourage a more active lifestyle by providing the opportunity to exercise. Additional benefits include improved community nutritional knowledge and consumption of healthy foods as well as improved mental health (Blair, Giesecke, and Sherman 1991; Pate et al. 1995). The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) defines a community garden as any piece of land gardened by a group of people in an urban, suburban, or rural setting. Community gardens can range from one large communal plot to many individual plots and are found in a variety of settings such as schools, churches, neighborhoods, and hospitals. Some focus primarily on "urban agriculture," growing produce for a particular purpose or group such as education or donations (Teig et al. 2009). People who participate in community gardens grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs; for many, it is an opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the additional psychological and physical benefits of gardening (Kaplan and Kaplan 2005). Although community gardens in urban settings have increased in popularity over the years, community gardens on college campuses are a relatively new trend. College campuses, in particular those in urban settings, are often viewed as concrete jungles filled with asphalt and tall buildings, sprawling over many city blocks. However, green spaces on college campuses have been linked to higher academic success and lower attrition rates (McFarland, Waliczek, and Zajicek 2010). In addition to creating a more natural environment in an urban setting, colleges and universities are planting gardens to provide hands-on learning experiences, a source of local food for dining halls, and opportunities for collaboration with and outreach to the wider community. In addition to creating spaces that provide healthy food and educational opportunities, urban gardens are an important component of the sustainability movement. Traditionally, wellness and sustainability were considered to be allied partners but rarely operated within the same realm on campus. This phenomenon is slowly changing as the interdependencies between human health, well-being, and sustainability become more widely acknowledged. There are strong links between healthy and sustainable lifestyles and the built environment; in particular, green spaces and gardens can provide resources to further strengthen these connections. …