ACommunityGardenis…
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..acollectionofgardenplotsinanurban,suburbanorruralsetting,whichprovidesresidentswithaccesstolandforgardening.Communitygardensbeautifypreviouslybarrenorunusedland.Runbymembersofthecommunity,theyareaplacewhereneighbourscanmeetandworktogethertocareforthegardenwhilegrowingfruits,vegetables,flowers,andherbs.
Whatarethebenefitsofcommunitygardens?
FOODSECURITYandNUTRITION
Gardeningprovidespeoplewithfresh,nutritiousfruits,herbsandvegetablesmainlyduringtheharvestseason.Communitygardenscanplayanimportantroleinhelpingpeopletoeatwellwhentheyareunabletoaffordhealthyfoodinstores.Gardensprovidethoseonlowincomeswiththeopportunitytogroworganicfood,whichisoftenexpensiveinretailstores.
ACCESSTOGARDENINGSPACE
Communitygardensattractpeoplewhodon’thaveaccesstoyardspace,especiallythosewholiveinapartmentbuildings.Communitygardensareaccessiblespaceswithinwalkingdistancewherepeoplecanparticipateinrecreationalgardeningandgrowinghealthyfoodforthemselves.
ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITY
Acommunitygardenallowsindividualsconcernedabouttheenvironmentalimpactsoffoodtohavecontroloverthefoodtheyeat.Peopleuseorganicmethodsintheirgardens,thusreducingpesticideexposuretothemselvesandtheenvironment.Growingfoodinthecityreducestheenvironmentalcostsassociatedwithtransportingfoodoverlongdistances.Gardeningconnectspeopletothefoodcycle.Italsoencouragestherecyclingoffoodandgardenwastethroughtheuseofcompost,whichreducestheamountoftrashinlandfills.
COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENTandEDUCATION
Communitygardenshelptocreateapositiveimageofthecommunity.Communitygardenshaveapositiveimpactonthecommunity.Thegardenbecomesameetingspot,wherecommunitymembersinteractandgettoknowoneanother.Thishelpscreateacloser‐knit,morecooperativeneighbourhood.Communitygardensallowforcooperationacrossdiverseethnicandagegroups.InOttawa,gardenersandcommunitymemberscanalsoparticipateinfreeeducationalworkshopsthroughouttheyearwhichfocusonorganicgardeningskills,foodandenvironmentalissues,andthepreparationofnutritiousmeals.
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