Aaron Gonzalez, COMM 20 Sec 10, 6pm
Demonstrative Speech Outline
Topic: Food Deserts and How to start a community garden
General Purpose: To teach/inform
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about how to tackle a specific community issue
Organizational Pattern: Problem-Solution
Thesis 1: Food Deserts are hurting our low income communities by leading to health issues and lack of access to nutritious food and fresh produce. One very beneficial way to tackle this issue is throughout a community garden.
Introduction
Attention Getter: Have you ever heard of a food desert? Well, Food Deserts have taken over low income communities, and we aren’t doing enough to combat the issue.
Purpose: I am here to inform you all on what food deserts are, and how to build a community garden in relation to the idea of tackling the issues brought upon food deserts.
Preview: I will explain how Food Deserts are impacting low income communities, The benefits of a community garden, and how to take action into starting a community garden.
Body
I. MAIN POINT: Food Deserts are hurting Low Income communities, and there are other factors that play role such as gentrification, and high costs for fresh produce.
A. SUBPOINT: What are food deserts? What are the effects of them on low income communities?
a. Food deserts are defined as, “parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas.” (DeMuro). b. This has become a big problem because food deserts are often short on food providers, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. They are heavy on local liquor stores.
a. Access to supermarkets is limited in the fact that they are harder to access distance wise, and because of the costs
B. SUBPOINT: Supermarkets and their expensive prices are also playing a role in this issue of lack of resources to obtain/live a healthy life. Farmers markets would be a better alternative.
a. Most people in low income communities cannot afford to spend a lot of money on pricy produce and other healthy foods
b. If Supermarkets lowered their prices of their fresh produce, then it would be easier to access healthy foods.
a. Farmers Markets would be another great way of tackling the issue of a food desert.
b. Farmers Markets are community based markets where local farmers and people of the community come together to buy sell and trade for foods, organic items, and local grown produce.
a. farmers market could do bring the fresh produce that low income families need
b. They may not happen all the time, but when they are planned and running, it brings the community together.
Connective: Now that we have examined what food deserts are, lets move on to how we can bring awareness to this issue.
II. MAIN POINT: Community gardens are very beneficial for the community and provide many positive resources for the community.
A. SUBPOINT: One way we can tackle the issue of Food Deserts is a community garden.
a. Gardens are beneficial for bringing the community together, and it will be beneficial for the health and well being of others.
b. In addition, strengthening your connections with your community is very important
a. One thing that Community gardens provide is less “food miles” which means it is easier to access nutritious foods.
B. SUBPOINT: Find People who are interested
a. you must find people who are interested in starting this project with you.
a. the next step is to identify your resources from your community.
b. Contacting other community garden leaders or organizations could be helpful as you start planning to create your own.
C. SUBPOINT: Approaching a sponsor and deciding on a location for your garden.
a. Approaching a sponsor in this case would be very beneficial in the creation process and the long term partnership aspect once the garden is created.
b. Sponsors can be there to help you get the materials and resources you need.
a. “When Choosing a location ,look for areas with sufficient sunshine, access to resources like water for irrigation, and soil” (10 steps to starting a community garden).
b. In addition, do your research, or ask around to find out who is the owner of the property/land. Attempt to get a lease or agreement to be able to run your garden services.
Connective: Since we now know a little about the impacts of a community garden, lets examine how we can put this all together and take action.
III. MAIN POINT: Taking action is the hardest part of the process of building the garden.
A. SUBPOINT: Gather people to help you clean, get materials, and plan and design a proposal for the layout of the garden. In addition, setting the rules of the garden is one of the most important aspects of the whole process.
a. “The Gardeners and landscaping experts should be the ones setting the ground rules” (DeMuro). These rules set a base for what is expected out of the gardeners/members of the community.
b. In addition to setting rules, make sure that members of the community are staying in contact for the sole purpose of keeping the garden running and for safety.
a. Make sure you commit to going and spending time to not only keep the garden open, but to meet the members of your local neighborhood.
b. Continuing to fundraise for the garden is ideal in that you can raise money to get more materials/tools, and or for resources.
B. SUBPOINT: Find a way to fund your garden.
a. Funding your garden could be one of the hardest parts of the process. Resources like access to water are the most important and can be the most pricy, but there are several ways to avoid over spending.
b. First of all, you can get a grant from your local government
a. Another way to advocate for community and to bring awareness to the garden is through social media. You can fundraise and bring attention to the local people of your community.
b. In addition, you would be doing well if you collaborate with nonprofit organizations, and other local farmers.
Conclusion
REState Thesis: Starting community gardens is a beneficial way to get fresh produce while giving back to the community that is tackling the issue of living in a food desert. Living in food desert is the main reason why families who are low income and live in low income areas have issues such as obesity and lack of healthy resources
Review Main Points: Find people who are interested, make a plan, , find resources and people, gather materials, funding, get access to property, set rules
Concluding Purpose: To inform my audience about a solution to food deserts. I found this idea relevant given that food deserts is something that we don’t take into consideration everyday and we sort of forget about.
Closer: Thank you for listening to my speech and I hope you learned something new.
References (*APA*)
DeMuro, K. (2015, December 07). The Many Benefits of Community Gardens. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from https://greenleafcommunities.org/the-many-benefits-of-community-gardens/
(2018, June 01). 10 Steps to Starting a Community Garden. Retrieved from https://communitygarden.org/resources/10-steps-to-starting-a-community-garden/