Dish prepared with food from the African Food Basket project

African Food Basket Project Grows and Distributes Food to African Diaspora

Led by Emmanuel Momoh (PhD Student, Geography) and funded by an SLLC Green Fellowship, the African Food Basket project began in summer 2023. To participate in the project or learn more, contact Emmanuel by email or LinkedIn

Project Summary

The goal of the African food basket project is to promote access to culturally preferred food for diverse communities of African international students and scholars through a pilot study in the UC Davis Ecological garden. This pilot study will focus on the cultivation of African crops, which have been shown to be successful in the Student Farm, to determine their viability at the UC Davis Ecological garden. The study will explore the feasibility of incorporating African crops into the Ecological garden, and possibly Market Garden or other agricultural spaces within the SLLC, with the aim of promoting food sovereignty and food justice for diverse communities of African international and African Diaspora students and scholars. Furthermore, the project will engage students interested in African foods but not yet involved in the SLLC, and develop educational materials and guides through which similar projects can be implemented for other traditional food gardens such as Asian and native American food gardens.

Related Events

Sept. 11, 4:30-7:30pm. African Food Potluck & 22nd Annual Okra-Chile Cook-off. @ the Student Farm Ecological Garden. All are welcome. 

Project Updates

Momoh tending fluted pumpkin
Momoh planting fluted pumpkin. Leaves of the fluted pumpkin are eaten. It is difficult to access fluted pumpkin seeds in the US.
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Ziplock bag of amaranth greens
Amaranth greens sliced and packaged to share.

 

honey beans growing
Honey beans growing. Hoops will hold row cover to protect young plants from insects, squirrels and other pests.
okra, jute, ewedu
Okra, amaranth, and ewedu (jute) packed to share.

 

Lagos spinach
Lagos spinach (celosia argentea) and amaranth growing in African Food Basket beds.

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