Faith-Based Food Choices: How Food Deserts, Agriculture Literacy, and Home Gardening Shape Food Orientations in a Seventh-Day Adventist Church Community

Abstract

This study explores how agricultural literacy and home gardening can alleviate the effects of food deserts, concentrating on a Seventh-Day Adventist Church in DeKalb County, Georgia. It finds significant gaps in agricultural literacy among residents, which hampers their comprehension of agriculture's importance for daily life and food security. By introducing targeted educational programs, residents could cultivate home gardens, improving their access to fresh food and decreasing reliance on external sources. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research assesses agricultural literacy, food insecurity, and attitudes toward gardening among church members. Results show that those with higher education levels experience better food outcomes and healthier eating habits, highlighting the necessity of educational interventions. Furthermore, younger participants tend to adopt healthier dietary practices, due to greater access to nutritional information. The study recommends incorporating agricultural literacy into curricula and promoting home gardening as an effective method to enhance food security and overall community well-being. It concludes that these strategies are critical for achieving food sustainability and fostering self-sufficient communities while improving public health.