The last decade has seen a significant increase in interest surrounding community gardens and farmers markets. The American Community Gardening Association indicates that there are over 5,000 community gardens in the United States and statistics show that the number of farmers markets has increased from around 1,700 in 1994 to over 5,000 by 2009. There are a number of reasons for the renewed interest in these activities and the benefits to you and your local community can be significant.
A community garden is defined as a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people. One of the earliest forms of community gardening were victory gardens. They were encouraged during World War Two to help supplement the diets of Americans at home while ensuring that the forces fighting overseas would be properly supplied with the best materials and food available. Since then the community garden has evolved with many being run by non-profit organizations and neighborhood groups in an effort to improve their neighborhoods and local communities. These gardens provide a lot of benefits to their participants ranging from fresh produce that will usually cost a lot less than what can be purchased in a store to providing for healthy form of exercise and recreation.
There are probably community gardens right in your own local area but if not, you can start one of your own. The American Community Gardening Association (https://communitygarden.org/) can help you do this or you can contact local authorities about starting one. All you need is a vacant lot, permission to clean it up and some dedicated participants and you’ll be ready to get to work. Community gardening is a great way to help teach children about the benefits of gardening as well as developing a connection to the environment. The documented increase in childhood obesity makes community gardening a great way to get children to exercise without their even realizing it.
Just like community gardens Farmers Markets also provide important benefits to your neighborhood. Farmers markets are simply gatherings that allow farmers and local merchants the opportunity to sell directly to the consumer. Most farmers markets are not limited to just fruits and vegetables and many of them have vendors who sell meat, honey and other products as well. They often provide organically grown produce which is fresher and healthier than what you might be able to purchase in a supermarket and often at a much cheaper price as well. They also can provide produce that you may not get in a supermarket including vegetables such as heirloom tomatoes or certain herbs. Farmers markets also have significant benefits that they can provide to the local economy. Studies have shown that 90% of money from farmers markets goes right back into the local economy which benefits all of us.
Community gardening and farmers markets can be of great benefit to you and your neighbors so if you get an opportunity to support them, please do so.
