Bayside Addresses Systemic Food Insecurity with Community Gardens

Food insecurity is a systemic and intergenerational issue facing Linda Vista, one of San Diego’s most diverse and socio-economically distressed communities.

“When we look at the impact that food insecurity is having not only on people’s physical and mental health, but also on their ability to succeed in school and maximize their potential in the workforce, we truly see the scope of the problem,” comments Adam Osorio, Bayside Community Center’s Associate Director of Communications. “This type of self-perpetuating problem only gets worse over time unless a systemic solution is created,” he adds.

Bayside and partners are pioneering one such solution by converting a third of an acre of San Diego City Parks and Recreation property into a community garden.

“We’re really excited to have helped develop this first-of-its-kind initiative,” says Kim Heinle, Bayside’s Executive Director. “Now that we’ve created a model for how this work can be done we want to leverage our experience to support other communities throughout the region as they seek to address food insecurity in a systemic and sustainable way,” she adds.

Watch and listen to ABC 10News interview Amy Zink, Program Manager of Bayside’s Environmental Learning Center about the community garden here.