At Wise Words Community Garden in Mid-City, New Orleans (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
A community garden is simply a garden in which multiple parties participate. The land its on may be owned by an individual, an organization or the local government, but it is usually run by the gardeners. There are numerous benefits to joining a community garden. These include:
1. Community gardens provide nutritious fresh produce for the gardeners. Many promote organic gardening methods, which produce much healthier vegetables than those that are grown on most commercial farms.
2. Those who grow vegetables in a community garden can save money on food. Growing your own crops is much less expensive than buying them at the grocery store. And if another gardener is growing something that you want, you could negotiate a trade - furthering community-building in the area (see #6).
3. Gardening is a learning experience for urban dwellers. Few of them have experience with growing their own foods, so it provides an opportunity to learn something new. Kids can also learn lots of things by participating in a community garden, including math and business skills and environmental responsibility.
4. You can sell some of the food you grow in a community garden if you so desire. This is a wonderful way to make a bit of extra money from your labors.
South Beach community garden, Miami, Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
6. Joining a community garden is a wonderful way to meet and socialize with others in your community. It gives those of different ages, races and backgrounds the opportunity to work together toward a common goal and learn from one another.
7. By participating in a community garden, you are helping to add beauty to the community. Green space is rare in most of the communities that host community gardens, and by contributing to its development, you help provide a sanctuary from the stresses of the city.
Community gardens bring crops into areas where they're not usually found. But they also provide many more intangible benefits to city residents. Getting involved with a community garden is good for your health, the environment, and your community.
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