Community Gardens

I am often talking about the benefits of growing your own food, yet not everyone (especially city dwellers) has the space to dedicate to a garden. Community gardens can be found in cities across the country, and can provide a place for people to grow food and build community.
How do community gardens work? Generally, to get a plot at a community garden, you will need to get on a waiting list. When a plot becomes available you pay a fee (usually fairly nominal) and then you get to do whatever you like (with a few restrictions) on that plot of land.
Portland Community Gardens has a wonderful gardening program that is so popular that waiting times often run 2 or more years depending on which garden you are waiting for. The fee charged by Portland Community Gardens is $75 per year, which covers all of your water use in addition to plot rental. In Portland, sustainable gardening is encouraged and gardeners are not allowed to use non-organic fertilizers or pesticides.
Community gardens are not only wonderful because they allow for apartment dwellers to grow their own food, but they also build a sense of community and friendship for the gardeners who grow there. Many gardeners will grow at community gardens to make friendships and to gain tips and advice from those who are more experienced. A wealth of knowledge can be shared while weeding.
Community gardens also provide a wonderful opportunity to teach children about gardening. The community garden that I recently took my environmental science class to visit has a fabulous children's garden that is actually maintained by the schoolchildren in the adjacent building. Garden time has been built into the curriculum! We send our children to school to learn what they need for life; what could be more appropriate than teaching them to be self-sufficient in growing their own food?
Additionally, community gardens often help grow food for hungry people in the local area. Portland Community Gardens donates a huge amount of fresh produce to local shelters and food banks each year. Without these gardens, the fresh produce available to people in need would be even more scarce.
Unfortunately, in these hard economic times, there is not always enough funding to support expanding community gardens programs. If you are able to donate money or volunteer time, think about turning to your local community garden program. Help is always needed to maintain garden spaces and community areas. Plus, this could be a great way to meet new people or learn more about growing food.
If your local community does not have a community gardening program, what about starting your own? Chceck out the American Community Gardening Association for some great tips on how to get a community garden started.