Soil Health, Food Security and Youth Empowerment: A Different Way of Conservation

For the youth of Tapley Garden, the harvest is larger this year and the addition of new vegetables increases not only the anticipation of the harvest, it also increases the youth’s empowerment and engagement in the project. Growing vegetables that are more culturally relevant to them allows their passion for agriculture to bloom and grow just like their harvests.

The Tapley Garden, located at the Tapley Court Apartments in Springfield, MA has been operating since 2017.  The garden serves as an experimental garden, soil health demonstration, a garden store, and a community gathering area where the families from the neighborhood are able to discuss food, their families and the latest neighborhood news.  The garden allows demonstration of how soil stewardship can change and improve soil and land conditions.

When the garden first opened, the main plant that could grow was grass and a few dandelions.  Fortunately, unlike other sites in the area, the Tapley front green space did not have issues with elevated lead levels.  This was based on the results from UMASS Amherst Soil Testing laboratory.   Although contaminants were low or nonexistent, the nutrient level was also extremely low.  Small insects, pollinators and other animals were not present in the area.  Over time, the garden developed using processes such as mulching with leaves or aged wood chips, focusing on what is naturally sourced so as not to pull too much from the local environment.  The youth engaged with local experts on adding mushrooms, plant ferments (local weeds and plants fermented), Indigenous microorganisms and compost. Subsequent soil testing results presented an increase in nutrients and the taste of all the vegetables improved drastically.

Over the course of several years, the garden provided habitat for butterflies, bees, and multiple pollinators, a scene that was not in place when the garden started.

In the first year, much of the work was spent establishing a garden area that utilized no-till and biointensive growing.  Over the next 3 years, with care and attention from the youth leaders, guided by NOFA/Mass staff, the harvest increased steadily. During the height of COVID, the harvest served as a local store for many families that could not get to the store or who were experiencing financial struggles due to loss of employment or delays in services.  Last year, the garden saw its largest harvest of 2100 lbs.

Culturally relevant crops such as ají dulce peppers, gandules (pigeon peas), collards, and calabaza (pumpkin) grew easier each year with the addition of the regenerative soil practices.  Many of the practices were also discussed with family members, and residents brought their traditional growing practices, which also contributed to the garden’s success.  In fact, the practices that were used are nothing new – enslaved persons and immigrant farmers brought these practices.  The youth and staff were just putting those into practice.

The harvest abundance this season is seeing an all-time high.  Many of the crops selected by the youth leaders are foods that the families are familiar with and require some soil requirements that are already in place.  This year, the harvest is expected to be more than last year.  Crops such as sugarcane, and melons are growing easier (everyone is excited about the sugarcane).

Natural soil health practices really are a solution that can heal the soil, our neighbors, and the food we eat.