Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) recently marked Earth Day with seed planting to assist in combating a critical community issue: the food desert along Route 214 beyond Largo, Md. The event was hosted at the college’s Community Garden. It was a collaborative effort by PGCC’s Office of Government Relations and Community Outreach, the Student Garden Club, and Prince George’s County Master Gardener Program.

In recent years, residents along Route 214 have faced limited access to fresh, affordable groceries. While there are grocery stores on Route 202, there are no immediate supermarkets on Route 214 past Largo, leaving many families without immediate options for nutritious food.

According to the USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas, low access to healthy food is defined as living more than one mile from a supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store. In the area beyond Largo, many residents live more than a mile from the nearest grocery store, which indicates low access.

“Earth Day at Prince George’s Community College’s Community Garden is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when students, staff, and community members come together,” said Gavette Richardson-Duncan, director of government relations and community outreach. “We are proud to cultivate not only a thriving Community Garden at the College, but also meaningful community connections.”

The PGCC Community Garden began in 2023 as a partnership between the Service-Learning Office and a three-year Transform Mid-Atlantic (TMA) AmeriCorps VISTA grant. The garden welcomes all students, faculty, staff, and community members to enjoy its benefits. Students’ participation includes tilling, planting, maintaining garden beds and watering produce.

“As a student, it means a lot to be part of something that’s not only sustainable, but deeply needed,” PGCC Student Garden Club member Anna Davis said. “We’re planting seeds that could change lives in our community.”

“Our Community Garden is more than a green space — it’s a living classroom and a symbol of what’s possible when education and service intersect,” said PGCC Associate Professor Laura Miller. “This Earth Day, we were reminded that tackling issues like food insecurity begins here. We are growing stronger together and investing in our communities from the ground up.”

Prince George’s County Master Gardener Program volunteer and proud PGCC alum Ashley Delgado participated in the Earth Day event. “I saw a great opportunity to volunteer my time to the community college that helped me start my career, and to help me give back to my community.  I’m a gardener,” said Delgado. “I love teaching and helping others learn about gardening as much as I do. I think it’s really cool that PGCC has a gardening club. You have the potential to grow, garden and eat what you did yourself.”

As PGCC continues its garden programming, it remains focused on hands-on education, growing food, and building partnerships to bring healthy food solutions to the Route 214 corridor. Seasonal vegetables grown in the community garden are harvested and delivered to PGCC’s Owl Market, where they are given away for free to students and community members in need. These efforts reflect PGCC’s commitment to improving the area residents’ quality of life.