Community gardens promote healthy communities and provide food security for many low-income people. Community gardens are part of the open space of a community. The gardens and those who participate in community gardening contribute to the preservation of open space, provide access to it, and create sustainable uses of the space. Community gardens strengthen community bonds, provide food, and create recreational and therapeutic opportunities for the community. They can also promote environmental awareness and provide community education.
There are many reasons to grow your own vegetables including knowing what the quality of the vegetables are. Any homegrown vegetable is going to be fresher, taste better and probably have more nutrients than comparable vegetables in the grocery store. Many times new varieties or specialty type vegetables are not available in grocery stores.
A garden classroom is a tangible delight for children, especially those who have not had the opportunity to plant or grow vegetables. Used as outdoor classrooms, these gardens teach children about healthy foods and how plants grow, creating young stewards who will care and have a respect for our environment. The positive interaction between young and older people is a important aspect for a healthy community. Community gardens are great laboratories and field trip destinations for school and home-schooled students, families and organizations.
People do better in the presence of green plants, a common observation confirmed by research. Just having a garden around is a significant addition to everyone’s health. However, a garden can be so much more than a place to grow “spinach that is good for you.” Gardens can be effective in teaching a variety of disciplines and providing the setting for unusual, yet relevant lessons. They draw, create, and enhance the community. Gardens provide gathering places for outdoor activities such as art studios, youth projects, holiday celebration focal points, and the physical display of a myriad of natural experiments.
Community gardens provide skill-building and positive recreational opportunities that are accessible to a diverse range of people of all ages who take responsibility for organizing and managing the garden area. There can be formal or informal education taken place each day. There are many techniques used in growing vegetables and troubleshooting problems.
The typical time spent in a garden can be minimal from two to six hours total per week depending on the time of year and necessary duties. Generally, other volunteers or the management of the community garden can do most of the hard work of tilling. It does not take a very large area to grow enough vegetables for a family of four. Community gardens are divided up into different sized plots and a person can have one or several plots depending on their needs and the type of vegetables or fruit they want to grow. Flowers are always a nice touch to add to any garden. Any excess production is always welcome at the soup kitchen, farmers market or the homeless shelter.
