In the 1950s, Tiffany Hawkins' grandparents, alongside many Black Americans, migrated from the Jim Crow South to Arizona, opting for rural life. Their backyard garden became essential for food security in a landscape with few grocery stores serving Black people, fostering community ties through shared agricultural practices. These gardens not only provided food but also played a vital role in climate adaptation, reducing local temperatures and forming a social network that enhanced resilience. The establishment of such community infrastructures ultimately contributed to the well-being of those families during extreme weather events.
Urban agricultural spaces—neighborhood gardens—can reduce local temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and trees can lower the 'real feel' temperature by up to 30 degrees.
A robust social infrastructure, such as the ones that Black families built, can reduce heat mortality risks during extreme weather by 40%, while sharing greens, legumes and fruit sustained agrobiodiversity.
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