Brownfields to Green Plates: Nutrition and Health With Urban Agriculture.

The current resurgence in community and urban gardening is the latest in a long history of gardening in the United States.  The Liberty Garden and Victory Garden movements during the first and second World Wars (in which citizens were encouraged to grow their own food as a way to support the war effort); the urban gardening movement of the 1970s (in response to inflationary food prices); and the 1997 Community Food Security Act are three prime examples of citizens and government officials acting to meet the food needs of the United States, as well as respond to social trends regarding attitudes toward local foods and self-sufficiency.  Researchers note the recent creation of potential urban community garden locations as part of the typical urban sprawl process.  As rural farmlands are overtaken by suburban housing and business developments, failed inner-city businesses and aging homes offer up square-footage for community gardens.  In light of the current obesity epidemic in the US, the host of potential positive impacts of urban gardening is encouraging.  The most commonly cited links between food and human health center on improved nutrition, obesity prevention, and reduced risk of chronic diet-related disease.  Documented examples of the link between nutritious, accessible food and human health include improved brain and cognitive development in the perinatal period; improved school readiness in preschoolers;  improved learning, academic performance, and educational attainment in grade school;  improved physical, mental, and social development, growth, and health throughout childhood;  improved psychosocial functioning and behavior throughout childhood; and improved quality of life, perceived functionality, efficacy, and happiness in grade school.