What is Community Gardening?
Community gardening is the development and revitalization of unused or abandoned spaces into attractive, productive green spaces for the benefit of neighborhood community groups.
Community gardening:
Encourages self-sufficiency
Contributes to the education and socialization of youth
Creates opportunities for multicultural understanding
Provides ecological awareness
Fosters intergenerational opportunities
Improves family nutrition and increases community food security
Promotes biodiversity
Meets social and recreational needs
Offers gardening opportunities to people with disabilities
Provides vocational training and work experiences
Enhances neighborhood safety and beauty
Builds coalitions among groups dedicated to community revitalization
Community gardens began to develop in the United States in the late 1930s and 40s. Families were asked by the federal government to plant their own community, or “victory”, gardens during and following World War II. Since the start of victory gardens, community gardens have developed into a fun, inexpensive, and healthy way for people to grow their own produce and flowers.Today, an estimated 18,000 community gardens operate in both rural and urban areas nationwide. While many grow for their families and neighbors, many gardens also donate to local food pantries and homeless shelters.Take a look at some Central Ohio Community Gardens
Franklin County Juvenile Court Garden
Horn of Africa Community Garden
Chapman Elementary School Garden
Project Beauty Community Garden
For more information about community gardening please contact:
Franklin Park Conservatory
Attn: Bill Dawson,
Growing to Green Coordinator,
1777 East Broad Street,
Columbus Ohio 43203
614.645.5952
