Community Garden
@belindayhughes (1096)
United States
February 25, 2013 2:44am CST
A community garden is a situation in which a designated garden area is enjoyed by multiple gardeners. They might live on the edges or visit it on a regular basis. The land might be donated by a concerned citizen. I read about a community garden in Alexandria, Louisiana, USA, that is for the purpose of supplementing the pantries of low income seniors and others living nearby. Able seniors and volunteers care for the garden regularly, tending to the planning, cultivation, planting, watering, weeding, pest control, fertilizing and harvesting duties. Another community garden I know of is at a center serving AIDS patients with professional services and a pantry of donated groceries, cleaning and grooming supplies. Now, with the community garden, they are also able to offer fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables to their clients, who are often on a limited disability income. Yet another community garden I know of is in an area bordered by several historic buildings currently in the process of sustainable restoration back into residences. This community garden is designed to bring neighbors together in a shared space geared toward green living. Community gardens have different purposes and designs, but they're all good ideas.
4 responses
@kalyani1234 (637)
• India
1 Mar 13
This seems to be a really nice concept allowing seniors and low income group people to cultivate garden and reap their own food. I know of some societies that are formed on a co-operative basis but they are not really for the benefit of seniors that I know of. Another thing is the sky-rocketed prices of lands that prevent from such gardens being formed. I wish this concept is understood more well and more such gardens are formed. This will also help reduce air pollution to a large extent! Seems like it has a potential of turning into a green revolution.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Community gardening is very much a green revolution. Often the land, or at least the use of it, is donated by a concerned citizen who is sympathetic to the idea. But I'm seeing more friends on the web discussing successful community garden ventures, so I would say it is very much a growing movement.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
26 Feb 13
Many years ago when I first started out I joined a training scheme, and the centre where I worked was divided between office skills and gardening, there was a massive community garden which was used as training purposes for newby gardeners who wanted to learn the trade of planting etc, it was always kept nice, flowers, plants etc were grown for the benefit of not just the workers themselves but for visitors who came to the centre with the prospect of working or hiring the gardeners! What better to show off your garden skills then a community garden to your prospective new employers.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
1 Mar 13
You are so right, wolfs. The school system I used to attend and teach in has garden training programs available at different levels. I don't know if they include community garden concepts in the training process, but once the occupational program students built a small square foot raised bed garden for my special needs students. It was the first known special education garden in our district. That was kind of a community garden effort, I think.
@imsilver (1665)
• Canada
25 Feb 13
I volunteer with a local business and we are just now in the planning stage of our community gardens. I'm so excited about the entire project. We recently got the go ahead and the land from our district council and will (hopefully) use this summer to get our community gardens up and running.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
26 Feb 13
Best of luck with your community garden, silver. I hope it's everything you want it to be and more.
@allknowing (130067)
• India
25 Feb 13
This concept is in vogue in India where a society is formed and resources are also pooled in such as tractors. But it is not divided in the manner that you have outlined. I have not heard of any gardening work specially managed by seniors which seems a wonderful idea.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
25 Feb 13
Community gardens are a growing trend in the U.S. Community gardens are even reducing crime in low income areas. I don't know what the reason is exactly, but the figures I'm reading in the news are clear.
