Prevost Rutherford Urban Garden

Prevost Rutherford Urban Garden (PRUG) is a community green space that is committed to providing access to healthy foods, working collectively, providing educational opportunities, and creating positive growth in the neighborhood. 

PRUG’s vision is to promote wellness by creating a space that will feed the neighborhood physically, mentally, and spiritually. The plot plan includes a meditation garden for the residents to practice mindfulness or simply relax in a serene environment. PRUG will provide educational outreach programs for early learners, youth, and adults in Earth science. Raised beds and a high tunnel will be featured at PRUG to provide a controlled space to grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs to address food availability in the neighborhood. Pathways will wind throughout the garden to stroll or take a brisk healthy walk. PRUG is a means to empower the neighborhood while providing a space for beautification, revitalization, collaboration, service, and learning.

With the support of angel investors, we can purchase a high tunnel to expand our produce and flower growth, provide a warmer production environment, extend the growing season, protect crops from the elements, and provide shade during the high temperature months. Volunteers will assist with the following: 

April 2024

• Solicit investors for IBOY campaign 
• Survey land for high tunnel installation
• Remove native plant debris naturally 
• Level the soil from high areas to low areas
• Lay weed barrier
• Cover weed barrier with compost and wood chips

May 2024 

• Purchase high tunnel
• Await high tunnel delivery
• Solicit volunteers 
• Assembly high tunnel with volunteers

June 2024 

• Continue assembling high tunnel with volunteers until completion

The community needs were taken into consideration with the inception of Prevost Rutherford Urban Garden (PRUG). The residents were directly involved through surveys and block club meetings to understand the specific challenges and aspirations within the neighborhood. The findings showed that PRUG could foster long-term positive change and uplift the neighborhood by focusing on the following: 

• Bridging the Generational Gap: bringing young people and elders together to exchange ideologies, skills, traditions, and wisdom.
• Securing Food: the neighborhood lacks access to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food that can/will meet dietary needs that promote an active/healthy lifestyle.
• Preserve Gardening: a tradition that was inherited by our ancestry will continue as a means of being self-sufficient.  
• Community Agency: assisting community members with creating the capacity and resources needed to utilize their power to make positive change.
• Educational Outreach: teaching the art of horticulture through plant cultivation and management.
• Wellness: improving mental and physical health while connecting with the Earth and one’s self.