Something green and wonderful is growing across the country. Friends, families and neighbors are rolling up their sleeves and nurturing community gardens that are sprouting to life.

An estimated 18,000 community gardens are growing throughout the United States and Canada. Not only are these gardens good for the environment, they also help community members nourish relationships. Joining others in creating a garden is a great way to get outside, make new friends and create a living, growing green space. The benefits of gardens are numerous, from cleaning our air to providing a place to relax.

“Community gardens are important investments in the well-being of a neighborhood,” says Keith Baeder, senior vice president, gardens, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. “A garden welcomes participants, encourages people to work together and provides a haven for nature.”

A community garden can be any size and consist of almost any type of plant life. Bill Dawson, the Growing to Green coordinator for the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, defines a community garden as an area where more than one person in a community is caring for a garden. That community might be a church group, a school, or simply neighbors hoping to beautify their neighborhood.

“It’s a group of people coming together to make their space greener and enjoying the many benefits,” says Dawson about community gardens.

In his course on starting a community garden, Dawson focuses on six basic steps:

* Form a group. It is important to have two or three core leaders to handle planning and coordinating year-round.

* Decide on garden type. With so many possibilities (vegetable, flower, raised beds, herbs) the group must decide what to grow and who the garden serves.

* Find land. This can be a several-step process, but the land needs access to water and sunshine. Contact your local city council or municipal government for help finding space.

* Gather money and resources. Create a garden fund, and determine if the group should fundraise or partner with local organizations. It is necessary to create awareness of the garden to gain community support.

* Design the garden. Hold open design meetings so all volunteers can share what they want to see in the garden.

* Think ahead. A critical step is to realize what it will take to sustain the garden. Plan for the future when creating the garden, and decide in advance details such as who pays the water bill.

Many people grow a garden for its beauty, but the benefits of a community garden extend well beyond aesthetics. Community gardens reduce crime by turning dark, abandoned lots into active areas. They also promote opportunities for neighborly and multicultural exchanges. The social benefits are often springboards for ventures like teaching young adults entrepreneurship by selling produce and homemade goods at local farmers’ markets.

A garden can also serve an educational purpose, like introducing kids living in urban settings to the science behind a seed growing, or the link between honeybees and pollination. Community gardens are often the first introduction to nature for many children who have grown up without a backyard or nearby park.

Introducing children at an early age to nature through activities like gardening helps plant the seeds of enjoying and preserving our environment. Encouraging kids to get outside and explore brings them closer to nature.

Kids aren’t the only ones who reap the benefits of spending time outdoors. According to a 2008 ScottsMiracle-Gro survey, a majority of Americans recognize the positive effects of being outdoors, and associate outside activity with feeling refreshed and healthy. Many also said spending time outside helps clear their heads, and escape from work and other responsibilities. Community gardening – an outdoor activity for all ages – is a rewarding way to spend time in the sunshine.

To learn more about the benefits of community gardening or how to start one in your area, visit the American Community Gardening Association Web site at www.communitygarden.org. For other great resources and tips, visit the Franklin Park Conservatory Web site at www.fpconservatory.org/growingtogreen.htm.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: American Community Gardening Association, community gardens, Franklin Park Conservatory

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