Community Gardens

Why should we have community gardens?

Community gardens play a pivotal role in addressing challenges prevalent in many urban areas, both large and small. Their integration into communities yields significant benefits, enhancing access to nutritious foods, strengthening community ties, and fostering the development of a robust local food economy independent of large-scale agriculture and mega-corporations.  Recent research highlights the viability of community gardens as a means to augment access to healthy food in lower-income neighborhoods that lack grocery stores (food deserts). 

Beyond the nutritional aspect, engagement in community gardening has been linked to positive mental health outcomes. The act of planting, tending, harvesting, and sharing food is not only gratifying but has been shown to lighten moods, reduce stress, and alleviate anxiety.  

Community gardens also bring about notable environmental advantages. The green spaces they create play a role in diminishing air pollution by filtering particulates, establishing crucial habitats for pollinators, promoting the regeneration of healthy soil, and facilitating the recycling of organic waste through composting. In summary, community gardens present themselves as versatile solutions that not only cater to nutritional and mental health needs but also contribute significantly to environmental sustainability.