{"id":668,"date":"2023-01-10T19:30:48","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T00:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/mu-regional-pulse\/?p=668"},"modified":"2023-11-22T16:20:19","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T21:20:19","slug":"the-benefits-of-organizing-community-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/mu-regional-pulse\/2023\/01\/the-benefits-of-organizing-community-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Organizing Community Gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Kara Reedy —<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Learn It at Lunch is a presentation series on the Hamilton campus held in the conservatory, regularly led by Professor Janelle Allen, an instructor in the biology department. Professor Allen chose to focus on the benefits of environmental conservation for this semester\u2019s series, covering the process of decomposition and the impact that the environment has on our mental health. In the third and final presentation, Professor Allen chose to lead a presentation that discussed the benefits of organizing and participating in a community garden. Aside from personal health benefits, Professor Allen also discussed the financial and environmental upsides to maintaining a community plot. She drew from fellow researchers to persuade her audience to look further into possibly participating in a community garden on their own time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of gardening for physical and mental health is far from recent. Gardening in the United States and the rest of the world has largely maintained an essential status. Before mass production of goods and the surge in consumerism began, gardening was one of the only ways people could eat. In fact, there was a considerable push for at-home gardening following the Great Depression, since growing one\u2019s own food was vastly cheaper than buying. Keeping a garden, personal or communal, allows people and their families to eat food while knowing firsthand what has gone into the creation of what they consume. With fewer preservatives and other such chemical ingredients, home and community-grown food is often far healthier than what we find in grocery stores. Professor Allen brought up this excellent point in her presentation: Would you rather eat fruit that has traveled across the globe and could have been exposed to all manner of chemicals, or would you prefer to eat fruit that you watched grow? Personal and community gardens also encourage healthier eating habits, which inevitably contributes to creating a healthier environment and mindset for community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community gardens are found primarily in industrialized areas with little to no green space. Communal plots ensure that community members can be exposed to at least some greenery. Cities and other urban areas are often considerably lacking in plant life, making the formation of community gardens much more vital in the long run. In cities with an abundance of concrete, the community gardens can be an escape from everyday life, and some of the only local places where people can find plant life. Being surrounded by nothing but uniformity can take a toll on a person\u2019s mental health, which is precisely why these communal plots have become integral to some communities. These gardens act as a sanctuary for those who prefer nature to the industrial jungle. Additionally, maintaining a community garden is a wonderful way to practice sustainability, offering many a chance to give back to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plant life on our planet is an essential and necessary part of our collective survival, and it is up to every single one of us to ensure that there will be green spaces like gardens in the future. Anyone can start up and register a community garden with the help of the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA), which Professor Allen informed her viewers of during her presentation. The ACGA provides countless resources to those who want to organize their own gardens, including detailed guides on just about everything to do with gardening. The process of starting and continuing a garden likely seems daunting, but it is crucial to remember that you are not alone and that there are those out there who are willing to aid you in your journey to explore sustainability. Professor Allen is one such individual who would love to assist anyone in starting either a personal or community garden, as she is a major proponent of sustainability. Gardening can be an enriching activity for anyone; even if you think you can\u2019t go through with it, you can always try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Allen intends to continue her Learn It at Lunch presentation series in the Spring semester with an expected four-part series. She hopes that students, faculty, and community members will participate in the talks next semester and that she\u2019ll be able to inspire a little more love for our planet. Keep an eye out for more information on Learn It at Lunch events and try to visit a community garden if you are interested. Several are located around the area, especially in Cincinnati. If you would like to learn more about starting a personal or community garden, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the ACGA through their website:
https:\/\/www.communitygarden.org\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Information<\/p>\n\n\n\n