Ric Soto

     With the assistance of 28 students this summer demonstration plots were assembled north of SW 17th Street between the FIU Preserve and the baseball fields. The plots currently are being used for an edible demonstration garden suitable for a single family home. A comparison of the inputs and nutritional quality of a handful of Brassica, lettuce, spinach and bean varieties is also being conducted in the raised beds.

     Initial site clearing was performed by FIU facilities. Afterwards, a four inch layer of chipped exotic trees was used to level the field and improve the site's drainage. Once this platform had been laid, a pair of raised commercial-grade fabric beds, each measures 5'x41', were installed and filled with additional chipped tree stock to a mean depth of six inches. Each bed offers 160 square feet of useable garden space. Using hand tools, site preparation and bed installation was completed in approximately 110 hours.

    
     The raised beds currently feature a 40 sq. ft. edible garden of native Florida berries, red mulberry and thornless loganberry, not available in local markets. These plants while obviously suitable for South Florida's weather do not ship well and are not widely cultivated. 'Misty' blueberry and a 'Chenango Strawberry' dwarf apple, both suitable for zone 10 cultivation, have also been planted. Misty is an early fruit setting Southern Highbush variety with very low chilling needs.

     Lemon basil and two varieties of marigold have been interplanted with these shrubs and the apple tree for pest management. The edible flowers of the 'Nematocidal' and 'Pinwheel' marigold may be used to garnish salads. For those homeowners that have lost their citrus trees to the citrus canker eradication program lemon basil can serve as a citrus substitute in recipes. Lemon basil growth is problem-free and the plants have successfully reseeded themselves. Additional herb plantings of Cuban oregano, dotted mint, and sweet mace are planned. Collectively these culinary herbs will minimize the labor and inputs associated with pest management.

     I'm currently identifying food deserts, areas under serviced by supermarkets and discount superstores, in the city of Miami. Such regions are often associated with poor diet. Low income senior citizens, a population well-represented in Miami-Dade County, are at increased risk of residing in food deserts. I propose that public parks adjacent food deserts provide space for allotment gardens to mediate the impact of food deserts on this vulnerable population. To this end, plantings of leafy vegetables, legumes and Brassica species will be grown in the raised beds using the square-foot gardening method popularized by Mel Bartholomew. Using this intensive micro-farming method I expect to show that Miami-Dade residents can overcome the dietary limitations associated with the uneven distribution of food retail outlets.

     The results from the above research will be integrated to develop an extension plan for promoting urban food gardens in Miami-Dade County. Based on the experiences of food gardens prevailing in other cities around the country, possible challenges and the necessary institutional and extension measures will be identified. The proposed extension plan will be useful for the consideration of community groups, city commissions, the county government and extensions offices, and state agricultural departments.

     One more additional use is planned for the raised beds. Native pine rockland plants absent or poorly represented in the adjacent five acre Preserve will be grown in the beds and then transplanted. The Preserve is a rare example of undeveloped pine rockland in Miami Dade County. Instructors rely on it as a teaching tool for students enrolled in the Ecology of South Florida lecture and laboratory. The cultivation of pine rockland plants will introduce students to issues in habitat conservation and restoration.

     The raised beds currently host an edible landscape garden, a vegetable garden and a rockland plant cultivation project. Students interested in participating in these projects or exploring another topic in Agroecology and Urban Gardens are encouraged to visit the Agroecology Lab at ECS 157.

     This project has been made possible by a funding support under the USDA CSREES HSI Higher Education Grant Program. USDA-CSREES Grant Number 2005-36422-15940.