Four Years of Experience with the Sao Paulo University Medical School Community Garden

Abstract

The School of Medicine, Sao Paulo University Community Garden (FMUSP Community Garden), formed in June 2013, occupies an area of 520 m(2). In the concreted area, vegetables and herbs are grown in large vessels (http://www.facebook.com/HortaDaFmusp). The garden runs on an agroecological basis using locally made compost (garden leaves and horse manure) and bio fertilizers provided by volunteers and the local restaurant (coffee powder). In the garden several herbs, medicinal plants, wild food plants and different types of seasonal vegetables are cultivated. The harvest is open for the entire community. Five medical students received financial support from the University to work 40 h per month to maintain the FMUSP Community Garden. Educational activities for the community include workshops (on medicinal herbs and wild food plants) and cooking events with students and volunteers including an elderly group, focused on healthy eating. In addition, a Ph.D. student conducted studies addressing the role of air pollution on urban gardens using the garden as an experimental site. In summary, the FMUSP Community Garden has provided sustainable, educational and research activities focused on sustainability and healthy eating in the medical campus, on a low budget, for the community. We believe this paper is important because it describes how this experience has benefited many health-related professionals and complements medical teaching. The FMUSP Community Garden has shown that agriculture in large urban centers is possible. The results were very promising, involving students, staff, patients and the surrounding community.