D.C. urban gardens bring low-cost, fresh produce to city’s food deserts

Lelia Parker grew up on a farm in rural Virginia and moved to the U.S. capital 30 years ago, seeking a more urban environment. But she still gets the gardening itch. Down the street from her Southeast D.C. home is a community garden, where tidy beds of succulent zucchini, peppers and squash grow. The garden is operated by the nonprofit group DC UrbanGreens. Not long ago, Parker discovered the site and began telling her neighbors about it and about how to cook with fresh vegetables instead of canned. Now she’s a board member and the group’s outreach coordinator.