17 replies to this topic

[FamilyTreeClimber]

I know that many cities are trying to incorporate community gardens in the city landscape so that locals can have fresh produce on a regular basis.  I'm not sure how widespread the idea of urban farming/gardening is.  Has the concept spread across the country?

They had a story on the local news about a poor area of Oakland where there is no local grocery store.  Residents got together and somehow were able to get a plot of land for free to set up a community garden within their neighborhood.  They've encouraged their neighbors to help them grow fruits and vegetables.  It's idea because most of the volunteers can walk to it from their homes.

All the food serves the people of the neighborhood whether they help the garden or not.  They are able to make up bags of food that are distributing around the neighborhood throughout the year.  Many of the people who get the produce are not able to afford it.  With out the garden they would not have fresh fruit or vegetables at all.
It was neat to see old and young people working side by side in the garden.  Each person took such pride in what their hard work has created.

I'd like to see this idea spread.  I think it could bring down grocery costs for everyone involved.  It, also, should reduce the use of chemicals since the time the food takes to get from crop to table is so much shorter.

Do you have a community garden in your neighborhood?

[zararina]

We do not have a community garden but some here who still have some space have their own garden.
And our community nears a lake and so, some have small vegetable gardens and they sell fresh vegetables in the community. There are several trees and plants too in some parts.

[happyrocinante]

I live in Kentucky and there are a few community gardens in a some of the largest cities here but Kentucky is still more rural than anything.  Most people where I live either have the yard to use, know someone who does, or take advantage of the farmers market available.  There are not many organic gardeners here though I have to say.

[mariaandrea]

Here in Seattle, community gardens have been around since the 70's and are still going very strong. Anyone can sign up and gardens are located all over the city. The city helps oversee the program through the Department of Neighborhoods and a nonprofit organization runs it. It's called the P-Patch program, named after the farmer who donated land for the first garden. One nice thing is that the program also helps neighborhood groups identify good spots for new gardens and helps them through the process of setting one up. You get your own individual plot (sizes vary) but the community spirit is very strong. Thousands and thousands of pounds of food gets donated to food banks. They're also experimenting with some collective gardens and giving gardens that are run without individual plots.

And there are programs like this all over the country. Obviously these kinds of things work best in large, dense cities where access to land is limited, but that's exactly where they're needed.

http://www.seattle.g...orhoods/ppatch/

[FamilyTreeClimber]

MariaAndrea, I like what they are doing in Seattle.  If cities got behind such efforts, it could reduce costs for feeding the poor.  Food is so expensive right now.  It would lessen the burden at food banks if people got produce from their own community garden or if community gardens donated food to food banks.

San Francisco and Berkeley have several of these gardens.  I know that chef Alice Waters has been instrumental in promoting the urban garden concept in Berkeley.  I remember when Prince Charles came to town a couple of years ago, he went to the garden she supports.

I think it's interesting how we went from the Victory Gardens of WWII to the idea that everything should come from the grocery store.  Now we are slowly coming full circle with farmers markets and urban gardens.

[mariaandrea]

yes, I think farmers markets and urban gardens are the best solutions for feeding healthy food to people in cities. More and more farmers markets are taking food stamps now too. I'm really hoping the giving gardens take off here. I've had a plot in a P-Patch before and it's fantastic, but a garden that's open to all and any who need the food from it - now that's a great idea. Like the urban food forest they're building here that will be open and free to all to harvest from fruit trees and herbs and greens and everything else that gets planted.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

When you think of how far produce is shipped and how many chemicals are used, a local garden is a much better option.  It has to be cheaper for everyone involved and the quality is superior.  There is nothing like produce picked and eaten within a day or two.

I remember a few years ago I had produce delivered to my house.  It was a company that bought from local farms, then delivered it directly to you.  Often there was only two or three days between harvesting and when I received it.  I remember the first delivery I received.  I opened the box and the vegetables smelled so good.  After buying produce at the grocery store for so many years, I'd forgotten how rich the smell of fresh produce is.   It really isn't the same thing when you buy something at the store that has traveled across country.

Anyway, I hope people continue to come with innovative ideas for growing fruits and vegetables locally.  Nutritional it is a good idea and it could save cities money in the long run.

[steph84]

I love rooftop gardens and farming in small spaces. Hydroponic gardening is pretty neat, if I could figure it out myself. I would like to try it at least once though.

[dziomek]

I personally live in a rural area, so have a lot of space for my own garden. I do think community gardens should be encouraged, as it will not only help the residents, but beautify the community as well. It may also give teenagers an outlet for their creativity in a good way, instead of getting into trouble because they have nothing to do. I like the idea of the produce being available for all, whether or not they have contributed to the care and upkeep of the garden. Many people simply cannot afford to buy produce in the grocery stores.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Small strip of land by a bus-stop turned into a garden-and more are being added-
Here

[FamilyTreeClimber]

Shortpoet, that is a clever way to use space.  I am assuming it's not approved since they called it guerilla gardening.  Still, I wonder if they can keep people from messing it up since it's right there out in public without barriers.

Dziomek, I think there is something people can learn from working with the earth.  Some of our youth live in cities where they aren't in contact with nature.  Heck, look at that TV show with the chef who was showing elementary school kids produce and they couldn't even name potato or tomato.  It's a disconnect.  It seems to me when you have a hand in creating something like this you feel a certain sense of pride and responsibility.  Also, it gives them a break from life, especially those who live in harsh neighborhoods.

[ACSAPA]

Planting food on those neglected pieces of land is a great idea, but it wouldn't fly in my neighborhood. I've had patio furniture and plants stolen off my patio, so if there were vegetables and herbs growing near a bus stop, all that stuff would get stolen.
There's an entire 6 block area not far from me, that is very burglary-prone. This is why I aspire to move as soon as possible.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

ACSAPA, it doesn't sound like a very good place to live.  Where I used to lived was getting shabbier and shabbier.  We didn't have a lot of crime, but we bordered cities that did.  It sometimes spilled over onto our streets.

One thing I think this can achieve is making people feel like they have a hand in their community.  It's a little more difficult to tear something down, spray it with graffitti, etc. when you've helped build it up.

[Sandra Piddock]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 28 July 2012 - 03:05 AM, said:

Small strip of land by a bus-stop turned into a garden-and more are being added-
Here

Excellent use of limited space, and it's something that comes naturally in the UK - when you live on a small island, you have to work out how best to use the finite space available. Even if we don't get gold in the Olympics, it seems we're in pole position on this one!

[FlanneryCam]

I live in a rural area in the Midwest. We are surrounded by farm land (mostly producing corn). As a transplant from the big city, I figured that community gardens wouldn't stretch into farm country.

But I was wrong! All of the communities around here have awesome community gardens that are really well used.

I'm lucky I have a big yard to grow my garden at home. But I would love the community aspect of the community garden.

[msterees]

There aren't any community gardens in my area that I'm aware of. There are quite a few farmer's markets and locally-grown produce stands at some of the flea markets around here though. I like the idea of a community garden, especially the fact that everyone in the neighborhood gets to benefit from it even if they are unable to help take care of it. Hope the idea catches on around the country.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

It's neat to see this movement spread.  I would imagine many urban dwellers have not tasted really fresh produce in a long time if ever.  I remember when I signed up for home delivery of organic produce about 10 years ago (can't afford it now).  I was amazed at the smell emanating from my bin.  The produce smelled so rich.  It's a smell that is almost absent from the stuff you buy at the grocery store.

I can't find the story, but I heard that some states are having clashes with community farms.  The gist of it is bigger farms and grocery stores are getting uptight that these community gardens are cutting into their sales.  So, they make complaints that the food isn't safe or the land being used isn't fit for growing food.  They are trying to get cities and states to enact laws that would ban these farms.

I think it's ridiculous.  Many of the people who are benefitting from these farms are poor.  They probably aren't contributing much to the sales anyway.

[irenen1]

I'm an Army brat. No matter where we lived we always planted something and took advantage of what grew wild in the surrounding country areas. My Mother was German and grew up during WWII. I'm thankful for the survival skills she instilled in me.