Engineers Without Borders UMN students researched science standards and brainstormed ideas for lessons in the garden around the components that were planned with UFGA and Children's Garden Collaborators beginning in fall of 2020 and installed in spring and summer of 2021. These documents track their findings and ideas, some of which made their way into the curriculum.

We decided to experiment with Photovoice on the recommendation of one of our academeic collaborators. We were drawn by the possibility of adding a creative learning component and streamlining documentation for grant reporting. 2021 was the first year we attempted to use Photovoice. If we decide to continue with Photovoice in the future we would do a few things differently:

1. Make sure gardeners have cameras right away and provide a bag/backpack for cameras and other garden materials.

2. Include information on the use of cameras and the intention behind the project for caregivers.

3. Create an album with an outline and questions for each week for each individual gardener.

4. Consistently integrate Photovoice sharing into our initial circle gathering and instructions/reminders for next week into our closing.

5. Curate an exhibit as part of our final gathering in the Peace Garden to give gardeners an opportunity to share their work.

If you're interested in learning more about Photovoice, here are a few resources:

Alexis Nikole's videos are full of great information about the food that grows all around us and how to prepare it—and she's hilarious! Watch her videos on Tik Tok, follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

We're in awe of the work that this group has done to support and revitalize their community.

"The Cooperative Community of New West Jackson (CO-OP NWJ) is an 8-block community nestled in a blighted, high poverty, disenfranchised area of West Jackson, Mississippi. A community on the brink of extinction, us residents began a new grassroots movement in 2013 to rebuild our neighborhood from the inside out.

Through a cooperative model building true economic opportunity through resident-driven enterprises as an answer to generational poverty, systemic exclusion, and years of misguided charity work, our community is beginning to redefine what we consider an asset, understand the power of our cultural narrative, and find solutions for ourselves through working together."

Visit their website to learn more about and support their work.

Dream of Wild Health owns a 30-acre farm in Hugo, Minnesota and has been teaching Native American Youth about gardening, cooking and culture since 1998. If you're in the Twin Cities you can visit them at the Four Sisters Farmers Market June - October.

Soul Fire Farms was established in 2010 by a Black-Jewish family living in Albay, New York. Their work has expanded exponentially since then and their website contains amazing resources.

Oakland based Planting Justice uplifts community and provides access to resources and training, jobs, and good food in support of creating Food Justice. Visit their website to learn about all of the amazing programs they run.