ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 17 million Americans live in food deserts where it’s difficult for families to find fresh, affordable produce. Experts warn it is only getting worse. Rising temperatures damaging crops, inflating prices, and pushing families deeper into food insecurity. But now, communities are getting their hands dirty to solve the problem. In the middle of the city, neighbors are turning lawns into urban micro farms. And they’re doing it all with practically zero fossil fuels! Fleet farming is not only feeding families but growing resilience and hope.
They plant, they ride. They weed; they ride. They harvest; and they ride. This is fleet farming.
“We could easily grow more than 500 pounds of produce in this bed,” explained fleet farming farm manager Bevin Rogers standing over a long bed of lettuce.
It’s a patchwork of 13 lawns turned into micro farms right in the middle of the city.
“That’s a bike pedal powered urban food program where we farm places, especially food deserts and help to create a source of local produce,” biologist & IDEAS for US CEO Clayton Lewis Ferrara told Ivanhoe.
Fleet farming is a flagship program of IDEAS for Us, an eco-action organization. In 10 years, it has converted over 176,000 square feet of lawns, harvested nearly 18,000 pounds of produce, educated 32,000 volunteers, and fed 9,000 locals.
“We’re now able to give our food away to four schools who are in food desert areas,” said Rogers.
But volunteers grow more than just greens — they’re planting roots, connection, and resilience.
“In a study of more than 10,000 kids around the world, 60 percent of them are experiencing eco anxieties. But thankfully what we have found is children who are involved in community actions to address some of these environmental issues are less likely to have depression and anxiety,” stated Megan Ennes, PhD, assistant curator of museum education of the Florida Museum & director of the Thompson Earth Systems Institute.
From anxiety to agency — experts say when families work side by side, building solutions — they cultivate emotional resilience.
“So, families can work together within their communities and not just we hope the world is going to get better, but productive hope that we are working together to make our planet better,” Ennes told Ivanhoe.
And that hope is taking root.
“It helps people to better believe in themselves and better understand their community and understand how to organize for action, which is really important skills,” said Ferrara.
“Groceries are kind of expensive, so it just felt like an opportunity to really help, but in a way that’s really sustainable,” explained Kiana, a volunteer.
“It’s great and honestly I feel like I’m doing it with purpose,” said Sharon Salazar, another volunteer.
Through hands-on work, families are learning where food comes from — and where change starts.
Fleet farming is just one local example of a global movement. As part of IDEAS for US, similar eco-action branches in more than 30 countries are helping communities identify their biggest environmental challenges — and then take hands-on steps to solve them. From food deserts to climate resilience, it’s a model for change that starts right at home.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor.
Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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Sources:
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/documentation
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