Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) works to enhance our community’s health by connecting people to agriculture and the land through hands-on learning opportunities from seed to plate.
Improving Mental and Physical Health of Food Insecure Children Through Hands-on Nutrition Intervention
Funded By: Boone County Children’s Services Fund
CCUA provides nutrition- and garden-based programs at schools and homes that will improve fruit and vegetable consumption leading to better physical and mental health outcomes for children living in Columbia’s three most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- Health Education
- Community Gardens
Opportunity Gardens & Urban Farm-Based Education Programs
Funded By: Heart of Missouri United Way – Health Impact Area
CCUA’s three core programs empower participants in Boone County with the skills and knowledge to grow and eat healthy foods. The Opportunity Gardens program reaches lowincome families in Columbia who establish a new vegetable garden at their home and receive mentoring over a three year period. OG makes positive nutritional choices available to families, allowing parents to model healthy behavior and creating youth who are properly nourished, healthier and better ready to succeed. The Urban Farm-Based Experience Program (UFBEP) is based from CCUA’s Urban Farm, located in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Columbia. Students and adults participate in handson experiences that connect food with the local ecosystem. CCUA also conducts programs inside of public schools, assisting in the development of Outdoor Classrooms. These outdoor learning spaces enhance school curriculum and provide children with the opportunity to be active and see food from seed to plate.