When Iqbal Akhtar first moved to the Brownsville neighborhood in Miami about two years ago, he noticed the area lacked access to fresh produce. So he decided to plant papaya and other fruit trees around his house. His garden drew notice from other residents.
"They were interested. They were like, ‘What are you doing? What is a papaya?'" Akhtar said.
The reaction helped inspire Akhtar’s idea of converting nearby Glenwood Park into a community garden with fresh fruits and vegetables. On Sunday, his idea became a reality.
More than forty people gathered at the park to install garden beds with tomato crops and other vegetables. Miami-Dade County park officials also helped plant fruit trees, including starfruit and breadfruit, on the property.
With Brownsville in a food desert, Akhtar said the garden will be a food source for some residents. It will also connect people with the environment and bring them together as they help maintain the garden, he said.
"We can grow [the produce] here, teach people how to grow," said Akhtar, who's also a professor at Florida International University. "We can actually make this place a place where people can come and do work. They can study. They can connect with each other."
NFL Green helped create the garden. It's part of a larger sustainability initiative across South Florida by the NFL before the Super Bowl comes to Miami in February 2020. As part of the new garden project, Miami-Dade also planned to give away 100 fruit-bearing trees that residents could plant on their own properties.
As county workers and residents helped dig holes and plant trees on Sunday, other volunteers taught people how to make fresh salads. Some attendees painted flowers on barrels that will collect rainwater for the plants and trees.
Before the garden, Glenwood Park included a plot of grass and a nearby playground. Akhtar said the park had been underused.
The garden is currently a pilot project, Akhtar said. It could expand around Glenwood Park if residents receive it well. He said although the produce will initially be free, a farmer’s market will ultimately sell the fruits and vegetables. The revenue will help pay for maintenance costs.
"The community needs it," said Stephanie Jenkins, a Brownsville resident who was at the event. "We need to start practicing eating healthy and eating better."
Residents like Luis Hernandez will be responsible for maintaining the garden with assistance from the county.
Hernandez has helped care for Akhtar’s own garden. He noted he has a crack addiction and is excited about maintaining the newer garden at the park.
"I just look forward to using my time better, here in the park, helping stay clean," Hernandez said. "I am trying to change. So yeah, I’m a put my pride into this."
