Grant Union High School, Sacramento, CA

As new immigrants take up residence in cities across the country, many bring with them agrarian roots-years of planting and tilling whatever soil was at hand, counting on the produce they grew to fill their diet. At Grant Union High School in Sacramento, a group of students teamed up with local immigrants to continue this tradition through community gardens. Aiming to bring people together, beautify the environment, and practice sustainable agriculture, these students saw neighborhood gardens as an important component of community development, and documented their impact.

The students conducted first-person interviews with the local gardeners who had emigrated from countries like Vietnam, Russia, and Mexico. Combining photographs with personal reflection in a multimedia slideshow, the students recounted the gardeners' diverse oral histories. Interviewees shared stories of coming to this country, preserving their own cultures through sustainable gardening, and developing a sense of community around their gardens.

Final Products Our audioslide presentation Requires Flash Player. Download here. Interview questionnaire in English, Spanish, and Hmong Transcript of interview with Zoua Vue at the Fred Lawson Community Garden

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