Last updated: November 2024
Project Roots is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable living and enhancing food security in South Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 2020 in response to rising food insecurity—an issue impacting one in seven Arizonans—Project Roots aims to provide lasting solutions through community education, accessible fresh produce, and supportive services for vulnerable populations. Central to Project Roots’ mission is its work in community gardening. The organization manages and maintains several community gardens, including 20 reserved rows at the Spaces of Opportunity Garden, where individuals and families can cultivate their own produce. Through these gardening spaces, Project Roots empowers community members to grow their own food, promoting self-sufficiency and healthier food choices. Education is a cornerstone of Project Roots' outreach. The organization offers hands-on gardening classes, workshops, and educational resources that teach sustainable food production practices. A significant part of this educational effort focuses on South Phoenix's youth, helping them understand where their food comes from and how to grow it, fostering both awareness and skills that encourage lifelong healthy habits. Project Roots also works to ensure that fresh, locally grown produce reaches the wider community. By distributing produce through farmers' markets, produce bags, and partnerships with local food banks and soup kitchens, Project Roots provides a consistent source of nutritious food to those who need it most. The produce bags, often delivered to community centers and low-income housing areas in Phoenix, help bridge the gap for those with limited access to fresh food. In addition to its food-centered programs, Project Roots extends its support to include essential services such as food assistance, hygiene items, and temporary shelter, making it a vital resource for individuals and families experiencing hardship. (1-5, 8-14)
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
- Horticulture
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving physical health
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
- Food scarcity / security
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature)
- Disconnection from nature
- Poor community engagement
- Resource Scarcity and Competition
- Food insecurity due to disruptions in food production and distribution
- Other
Key priorities
Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Sustainable use of natural resources to improve livelihoods and food security (eg. community- based wildlife or forest management), Educational and awareness raising programs, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Creation of new, innovative governance and management approaches
Project objectives
The Project Roots initiative has defined the following goals:
To create a community garden and an orchard where local residents can grow their own food and are involved in management processes related to the garden
To address food insecurity by providing affordable access to fresh, locally grown produce.
To educate and empower community members to grow their own food and improve their well-being.
To teach the importance of sustainability by promoting sustainable living practices through farming.
To support financial self sufficiency of the community involved by allowing access to local markets to sell produce
(1, 3-5, 9-10, 12-13)
Implementation activities
Project Roots has implemented several key activities to achieve its goals and address the challenges of food insecurity, community empowerment, and sustainability in Phoenix, Arizona.
1. Established the community gardens in South Phoenix, providing gardening plots for 18 families, and offering educational resources and support for community members to grow their own food.
2. Increased their farming space to 20 rows by adding a 2,500 gallon [9463.5 liter] water tank that helps them store their weekly ration of water to acquire more land (9).
3. Created a farmers' market to sell fresh produce grown by Project Roots and other local farmers; Distribution of produce bags to individuals and families in need; Partnerships with local food banks and soup kitchens to provide food assistance
4. Provides gardening classes and workshops for both youth and adults; Teaching community members about sustainable farming practices, nutrition, and healthy living; Promoting awareness of the importance of local food production and consumption
5. Organized events and activities to foster community involvement and social interaction such as planting 200 citrus trees at the Spaces of Opportunity garden (20).
6. Collaborated with other local organizations and initiatives to expand reach and impact (6-7, 9, 13, 17, 19, 22).
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Low-income neighborhoods, Urban heat islands, Minority or marginalized ethnic groups
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed), Homeless people & people living in informal settlements
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Project Roots was co-founded by Phoenix community members Bridget Pettis and Dionne Washington, who sought to address food insecurity and promote sustainable living in their community. The farm is sustained by a dedicated and diverse group of about three dozen local volunteers who contribute their time and efforts to keep the project running smoothly.
Support for Project Roots also comes from a range of private sector partners, including Boeing, Microsoft, The Gladly, Holder, Phoenix Mercury, Alvéole, and PHX, which contribute resources and funding to advance the organization’s goals.
In addition, several non-governmental organizations provide support to Project Roots, helping to expand its reach and impact in the Phoenix area.
The City of Phoenix plays a crucial role as well, particularly through its Feed Phoenix Initiative, which partners with Project Roots to ensure that fresh produce bags are delivered to vulnerable populations throughout the city. (9,11,22)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Feed Phoenix Initiative which is funded by the CARES act(9). The project is also correlated with the South Phoenix Food Action Plan (19). )
Type of enablers
Capacity-building projects, Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Achieved increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Expected improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Expected improved mental health
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Project Roots (n.d.). Our Story. [Source link];
2.
Project Roots (n.d.). Tower Garden Project. [Source link];
3.
Melanie, K. (2023). Project Roots: The nonprofit organization planted by women is growing. [Source link];
4.
Blaxfriday (n.d.). Project Roots AZ. [Source link];
5.
Good Food Finder (n.d.). Project Roots AZ. [Source link];
6.
Project Roots (n.d.). Project Roots . [Source link];
7.
D'Andrea, N. (2020). Project Roots AZ Hosts Tree-Planting Party on February 15. [Source link];
8.
Phoenix New Times (2021). Best Urban Community Farm Project Roots AZ. [Source link];
9.
Good Food Finder (n.d.). Laying Down Roots: How Feed Phoenix Helped Project Roots Expand Community Garden. [Source link];
10.
Collins, C. (2023). VIDEO – Former Mercury Player And Coach Creates Project Roots To Resolve Food Insecurity. [Source link];
11.
D'Andrea, N. (2020). Bridget Pettis' Project Roots Makes it Easy to Bring Home Phoenix-Grown Food. [Source link];
12.
YurView (2021). Project Roots Arizona. [Source link];
13.
Arizona's Family (2023). "Project Roots" teaching community to grow their own food. [Source link];
14.
ABC15 (2023). Project Roots is a community-based garden that grows food to help with food insecurities. [Source link];
15.
Bannecker, J. (2021). Your Valley Toyota Dealers are Helping Kids Go Places: Project Roots. [Source link];
16.
Davis, C. (2021). Meet Project Roots: South Phoenix nonprofit shines light on community farming during COVID-19 pandemic. [Source link];
17.
Chambers, B. (2021). Project Roots community garden has a mission to keep South Phoenix fed. [Source link];
18.
UUCP (2023). Share the Plate: Project Roots. [Source link];
19.
Taros, M. (n.d.). 'Starting at the root every day': Nonprofit teaches kids in south Phoenix how to grow food. [Source link];
20.
FOX10 (2020). Local non-profit group to plant 200 trees in South Phoenix. [Source link];
21.
Project Roots (n.d.). SERVE WITH US. [Source link];
22.
Project Roots (n.d.). Supporters. [Source link];
23.
Maricopa Association of Governments (2022). Arizona Demographics . [Source link];
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Project Roots AZ
https://www.facebook.com/projectrootsaz
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.