Community Gardens

Community is where the heart is! A community garden is a place where people come together to grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers. There are many benefits to participating in a group garden. Communal gardening provides physical, educational, social benefits, and most importantly yielding delicious home-grown crops.

Health Benefits

There are plenty of health benefits associated with a community garden. Gardening is a great way to relieve stress as it provides an opportunity to get active. Gardening can be considered mild to moderate physical activity. Getting outside and spending time in nature has great health benefits. Studies show that being outside decreases anxiety and increases self-esteem. Getting outside and involved in nature is critical for a holistic approach to health. Gardening can boost your nutrition, exercise habits, and mental health.

Positive Experiences

Community gardens provide real-world, hands-on experiences. Garden-based learning is beneficial for youth and teaches youth through experiential learning. Youth involved in collective gardening have the opportunity to learn about healthy eating. They can also learn the art of cooking and preserving products from the garden. Gardening teaches people about food systems and where their food comes from.

Social Benefits

There are many aspects of social benefits that are derived from communal gardening. Community gardens provide intergenerational groups with the opportunity to develop collaboratively. Communal gardening is an inclusive experience as there is a variety of personal backgrounds working together for the success of the garden. There is also a wide range of experience levels with a community garden. Diversity of backgrounds and experience makes gardening a bridge for community residents.

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