We are partnered with our local hub, the Southeast Texas Permaculture Network (STPN) on the Permaculture Institute of North America (PINA) PCx Permaculture Crossing, a social networking platform for Permaculture enthusiasts in order to share resources. You are welcome to join to connect to others and attend in person monthly meetups. It is an opportunity to leverage shared green spaces and create new friendships.
By Alex Cho, 2024 Urban Harvest Intern, Rice University 2024
Unlocking the potential of Houston’s communities through the power of gardening and healthy food access is a mission that drives Urban Harvest, Inc.
As a former student at Rice University, I delved into an extensive GIS mapping project in collaboration with Urban Harvest, building on my senior project with Rice University’s Center for Civic Leadership. My passion for food access and urban agriculture led me to explore the vital role of community empowerment in addressing food insecurity in Houston.
In Texas, where food insecurity rates remain high, with 16.4% of Harris County residents affected in 2022, the impact of limited food access is profound. When nutritious food is scarce, individuals often resort to cheaper, less healthy options, impacting their well-being and overall quality of life. This ripple effect extends to education and work performance, as well as escalating health costs, further straining already vulnerable households.
Through my collaboration with Urban Harvest, I aimed to shed light on their initiatives in Houston, particularly focusing on the permaculture program. Leveraging ArcGIS Pro, I crafted diverse maps drawing from sources like the USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas, Harris County Public Health data, and datasets from Rice’s Kinder Institute. With assistance from Milton Nguyen, a fellow Rice student engaged with Urban Harvest, we delved into layers of information to map Urban Harvest’s community gardens, permaculture projects, and other key points of interest.
Above, excerpt from GIS mapping of Social Vulnerable Communities, Urban Harvest community gardens and mobile markets and Qualitative Analysis by Milton Nguyen.
(source: 2023-2024 Community Bridges Project Gallery)
By integrating data on social vulnerability, food access, and heat vulnerability indices, I sought to showcase Urban Harvest’s footprint in Houston and identify potential areas for expansion. The inclusion of heat vulnerability and impervious surfaces data aimed to underscore the intersection of food access, community equity, and climate resilience.
Houston Social Vulnerability Index and Urban Harvest Community Gardens
Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI), impervious surfaces and Urban Harvest Community Gardens network, indicating public access to healthy green spaces.
While GIS analysis provided a county-wide perspective, my on-the-ground visits to affiliate gardens offered invaluable insights into the unique gardening practices within specific Houston communities. As a Houston native, this project allowed me to give back to my city in a meaningful way, thanks to the guidance and support of Carol Burton, Urban Harvest’s Director of Permaculture, and Malaika Bergner, the former Program and Development Manager, and esteemed Rice University alumni.
In a city where community empowerment and healthy food access are paramount, Urban Harvest stands at the forefront of cultivating thriving neighborhoods. Join us on this journey towards a greener, more equitable Houston.
