Plants Over Pollution

The Sacramento region is home to more than 20 community driven gardens and urban farms (City of Sacramento, 2022). These green spaces not only provide fresh, locally grown food to the region’s residents, but they also provide a space where community members can connect, collaborate, and learn. Urban gardens and farms make it easier for local communities to access healthy produce while also providing numerous environmental benefits, such as improving air quality and promoting sustainable farming and land use practices. It’s no surprise that a growing city like Sacramento has developed a thriving network of community urban gardens, with at least 20 in operation (City of Sacramento, 2022).

Source: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/ypce/parks/specialty-parks/community-gardens

One example of how these community-driven gardens can foster collaboration and positive environmental change is the story of Luther Burbank High School’s Urban Garden (BUG). In late January of 2025, the Urban Agriculture Academy at BUG faced significant risks of being shut down due to limited funding. Despite these obstacles, the dedicated efforts of students, teachers, and the local community came together to save this vital community resource. Thanks to the community members who signed petitions, called, and wrote letters to express their support, the Urban Agriculture Academy at Luther Burbank High School is set to continue as a full 3-year academy program with adequate funding. The outpouring of support highlights just how much urban gardens like BUG mean to the communities they serve, not only as a space for growing food, but for the connections they help build and the positive impacts they have on the environment.  

The overarching goal at BUG is to “inspire and engage youth at Luther Burbank HS to pursue futures in sustainable agriculture, food, and natural resource management” (Edible Schoolyard). Despite being a single teacher program, BUG attributes their success to their partners and community members such as former Sacramento City Mayor Darryl Steinberg, Sacramento City Council Member Mai Vang, Thousand Strong, and the Center for Land Based Learning. In addition to these partnerships, the garden’s success is a result of the commitment and hard work of the students and garden interns at Luther Burbank High School. BUG’s Urban Agriculture Academy provides education on a wide variety of farming and gardening concepts, including mulching and mending, composting, planting and potting, harvesting, and much more! Through the dedication of students and staff, Burbank Urban Garden hopes to “create a hub of healthy community in South Sacramento” (Edible Schoolyard). Community members are encouraged to follow Burbank Urban Garden on Facebook to stay up to date with upcoming events, plant sales, and opportunities for involvement.  

Source: https://edibleschoolyard.org/program/burbank-urban-garden

Urban agriculture plays a crucial role in increasing climate resilience. Urban gardens have long been known to offer not only food availability benefits, but also air quality benefits that the entire community can enjoy. Cities tend to have worse air quality due to vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and limited green spaces. Establishing urban gardens in unused spaces can help counteract this by absorbing pollutants released due to these practices and lessening emissions caused by food delivery vehicle reliance.

According to the United Nations by the year 2030, approximately 60% of the world’s population will be living in a city (United Nations). For these people, it is estimated that 15-20% of their food will be rooted in urban gardens as a means to provide food security through sustainable local methods (USDA). Instead of long-distance food transportation, these cities can begin to rely on locally produced food. By prioritizing local food systems and expanding green spaces, these cities can create a more sustainable, healthier environment while reducing their carbon foodprint.

Since 13.5 million people in the United States live in a “food desert”, urban gardens can provide a source of fresh produce, while also teaching food literacy.  As per the USDA, urban gardeners tend to have diets with a smaller carbon footprint due to understanding where food comes from and being part of a community that promotes sustainable practices.

Another benefit for using urban gardens is that they reduce agricultural pressure on rural farm plots with better utilization of unused land within cities. This allows for vigorous land recharge and crop rotations, which leads to more sustainable land practices in the long run. By introducing more vegetation in urban areas, cities can provide natural cooling and lower temperatures in neighborhoods, while promoting a healthier urban ecosystem.

Sources:
https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/international/topic/urban-agriculture
https://www.un.org/en/desa/%E2%80%9Cwhat-city-people%E2%80%9D

West Sacramento is a prime example of developing urban gardens to offset their community’s food insecurities and unite members of the community towards a common goal. These community-driven gardens not only provide a space for residents to learn about sustainability but also offer a much-needed sense of community, especially in Sacramento’s underserved areas. West Sacramento Urban Farms unites 600 volunteers to help produce up to 25,000 pounds of produce a month during peak seasons (City of West Sacramento). This fresh produce then goes to local school districts, restaurants, and local farmers markets. The Community Food Program, formerly known as West Sacramento Urban Farm Project, started in 2014 with a single urban farm and has now expanded to five parcels of land that houses two to four urban farms each.  

Sources:
https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/ypce/parks/specialty-parks/community-gardens
https://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/residents/urban-farms

We Grow Urban Farm

Established in 2018, We Grow Urban Farm has been growing high-quality seasonal vegetables for local communities. Their mission is to inspire the next generation of farmers of color, all while allowing for a deeper connection to the land and the natural world (We Grow Urban Farm)

We Grow Urban Farm works directly with youth who face barriers to success, offering jobs and teaching essential skills for future employment, including how to grow food. To continue supporting local youth and providing fresh produce to food-insecure families, We Grow Urban Farm is seeking land within the Sacramento area, tools and equipment (new or used), and monetary contributions. Donations can be made via Cash App ($WeGrowUrbanFarm) or Venmo (@wegrowfarms). Learn more about how you can support their mission on their website!

Source: https://wegrowfarms.org/

Three Sisters Gardens 

Three Sisters Gardens is a non-profit organization based in West Sacramento. The organization was founded in 2018 by Alfred Melbourne with a vision for food sovereignty and the transformation of a food desert into a food oasis. Inspired by the wisdom of his elders, Melbourne identified a previously unused plot of land which sparked an idea to begin growing food for the community on a small scale. Today, Three Sisters Gardens donates approximately 70% of their crops to food-insecure households throughout Sacramento and engages 625 community volunteers across four farm plots (Three Sisters Gardens).  

The practices at Three Sisters Gardens are reliant on indigenous and native knowledge and wisdom. Their name “Three Sisters” corresponds with the traditional indigenous method of companion planting, which is a cornerstone of their approach. By focusing on sustainable and regenerative farming practices, Alfred Melbourne highlights the importance of growing with Mother Earth, rather than against Mother Earth. Some of their key practices include deep carbon sequestration, drip irrigation to conserve water, cover cropping to improve soil health, crop rotation to encourage healthy soil, and the inclusion of California native plants.  

Melbourne attributes much of the garden’s success to the grassroots movement led by the community. While food access continues to be a barrier for the communities they serve, the organization encourages engagement through free

community events that provide knowledge, resources, and a space for community members to connect. Melbourne believes that strengthening a community comes through the sharing of ideas and knowledge. As he puts it, “It’s more than just lettuce. It’s about growing support, growing everyone’s voice, and folks coming together” (Melbourne, 2025).  

Despite their success, Three Sisters Gardens still faces significant challenges in relation to land access and land maintenance. Providing food on a larger scale requires not only access to land but also the infrastructure and resources to sustain it. Support from the community is crucial in safeguarding the resources that gardens like Three Sisters have to offer. Alfred Melbourne calls on community members to get involved and spread the word about Three Sisters Gardens. Support from the community is the largest factor in the success of the garden, as Melbourne shares that the garden is nothing without the people that it serves.  

Community members can visit Three Sisters Gardens website to view their volunteer opportunities or express their support and learn how to get involved by calling (916) 291-8595 or emailing info@3sistersgardens.com.

Source: https://www.3sistersgardens.com/

As cities continue to expand, urban agriculture is a critical tool for addressing food insecurity, improving air quality, and building climate resilience. By transforming underutilized spaces into productive urban gardens, we can reduce pollution, lower temperatures, and provide fresh, local food to communities that need it most.

Small actions can lead to big changes, whether it’s advocating for urban agriculture, starting a community garden, or supporting local urban farms. You can make a huge impact by volunteeringat Sacramento’s local urban gardens, donating resources, or participating in community-supported agriculture programs. Let’s work together to expand urban agriculture and create cities that are cleaner, cooler, greener, with better access to fresh food!

Authors: Paige Arnett, Shivam Gandhi, Sharon Kaur, Kassandra Vega