A community garden is a plot of land managed by members of the community who want to grow their own produce. The benefits of community gardens are plentiful. You may be surprised to learn all the ways you and your neighborhood can benefit from community gardening.
So, what is a community garden? The typical community garden will contain multiple tracts that provide gardening and growing space for interested neighbors. This inclusive activity fosters a sense of purpose and camaraderie that can help community members forge stronger bonds.
The community garden at Harvest by Hillwood is a place where the positive effects of community gardens are on display on a daily basis. Community residents can take gardening classes, help harvest community crops, and share surplus food with our local food bank.
If you’re interested in seeing firsthand why community garden development is so beneficial, consider taking an in person or virtual tour of Harvest. The residents of this master-planned community get the chance to live in an “agrihood”, a neighborhood that values farming, an agrarian lifestyle, and the benefits of community gardening.
The health benefits of community gardens are numerous. First, growing your own produce is a much healthier alternative to commercially produced fruits and vegetables that are often exposed to pesticides and other harmful substances. The farm-to-table philosophy at Harvest encourages healthier food choices, including a plant-based diet, which may reduce the risk of many preventable health issues.
Another important health benefit of community gardening is the fact that it allows us to spend time outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. The Texas climate is particularly well-suited to community gardening, which is why Harvest has invested so heavily into the community gardening development. You can enjoy the outdoors and see true results from your efforts when you participate in community gardening.
One of the best benefits of community gardens is the fact that they are good for the environment. A community garden can reduce the community’s dependence on commercial farming and shipping, lower its fossil fuel consumption (a.k.a “food miles”) and reduce reliance on agricultural pesticides in the area. Proper gardening can also rejuvenate arable land, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the benefits of community gardening in the area, too.
Your community garden also helps local bee and butterfly populations, some of the most important species for farming and gardening. A community garden benefits the local ecosystem by providing pollinators with plenty of colorful flowers, and they, in turn, will encourage stronger growth in your garden plot.
In addition to the health and environmental benefits of community gardens, you can also see why they are important when you consider their social benfits. When you live in an agrihood like Harvest and have the opportunity to participate in a community garden, you will quickly see why so many people are embracing the agrihood concept. You’ll have great opportunities to interact with your neighbors, share interests, and bond over the plants and vegetables you grow together. Community gardening also provides valuable educational opportunities and life skill enhancement for your children, teaching them the value of hard work and the reward that comes with eating food you grew yourself.
Community gardens can also structure themselves in unique ways. For example, you and your neighbors can focus on growing one or two types of plants each. This can prevent you from spreading your focus too thinly, especially if you do not have a lot of prior experience with gardening. Once you and your neighbors are ready to harvest, you can trade your produce so everyone can enjoy the fruits of one another’s efforts.
Harvest strives to emphasize the values of community farming, including modern country living and farm-to-table produce. We believe that the benefits of community gardening extend far beyond supplying delicious produce. If you’re interested in participating in an agrihood like Harvest but don’t have any experience farming or gardening, don’t worry. Farmer Ross is our full-time farmer available to assist new members of the Harvest agrihood and help them get started with their community garden plots.
The benefits of a community garden will surprise you once you experience them firsthand. Harvest has built incredible communal farming and gardening spaces with plenty of room for new community members. If you’re interested in seeing what our agrihood has to offer, contact Harvest today for more information.