Growing Urban Garden Discoveries
by Karen on September 22nd, 2009
With easy access to the fresh produce that modern supermarkets make possible, it can be easy to forget that you can grow nutritious and delicious produce in your own yard – even if you live in the city. It took battling congestion and a trip to the suburbs for something as simple as a home-cooked meal to open my eyes about the benefits of cultivating an urban garden.
Many people may think of Victory Gardens when they hear the term “urban gardening.” During war time individuals across the country planted gardens in yards and on unused plots. Eleanor Roosevelt planted one at the White House during World War II. Today, however, gardens are back in the limelight – even the White House has one again.
The benefits of gardening in the city are many – and gardens can be even more important in neighborhoods that lack access to good and affordable produce even in stores (“food deserts”). A family garden provides a combination of increased nutrition and decreased cost (some estimate savings of $200 to $500 per year). It also adds a little fun in seeing plants grow.
But what if you don’t have a yard? Unused plots can also be converted into community gardens. Not only do they create a garden oasis, but they can also create an opportunity for neighbors to meet and cultivate a bit of the future together.
A local nonprofit, Growing Home, uses urban agriculture to cultivate lives at a whole different level, as a transitional job training program. Low income and formerly homeless individuals nurture plants in fully organic urban farms. Two of its sites, in fact, are in the middle of the city. Much of the produce is ultimately sold in farmers markets or through delivery, and 100% of the proceeds go back to supporting the program.
My dinner in the suburbs was great. The food I ate had excellent flavor and I was able to explore a tremendous garden. But I really didn’t have to go out of the city for that experience. Urban gardens, it turns out, are growing more than veggies right here.
Tags: community development, food deserts, green banking, ShoreBank, triple bottom line, urban gardens
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