5/2/23, 3:06 AM How Community Gardens Improve Quality of Life

camposmaggy Apr 18 4 min read

How Community Gardens Improve Quality of Life

Updated: Apr 22

Hello, I'm Maggy Campos studying environmental studies and sustainability and sociology. I am passionate about natural and built environments as
they impact our daily lives. I am an advocate for sustainable practices and lifestyles and strongly believe our natural environment has the potential to
improve our quality of life.

I will discuss the benefits of community gardens from information obtained through peer reviewed sources as well as an interview with an
environmental researcher and teacher from the Naperville Conservation Foundation, Nancy Cinatl.

 
What is a community garden?

Community gardens act as flexible and adaptable green spaces. Depending on the needs and motivations of community members, gardens can be
an economic benefit, offer healthy food alternatives for those concerned about their diet, provide a safe and clean green space for those looking to
connect with nature, and be a communal space where people from all different backgrounds and grow and learn.

"Community gardening is communal and collective in nature and

cuts across ages, genders and cultures” (Kingsley et al., 2019).

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5/2/23, 3:06 AM How Community Gardens Improve Quality of Life

Community gardens are recognized as places where diversity thrives. This is because those participating in community gardening usually have an
interest in planting, learning, or being in nature. This serves as a point of commonality that facilitates connection with others.

"Because gardening appeals to people across demographic lines,

community gardens can increase the interactions between people
who would not normally meet or socialize" (Flachs, 2010).

How do they impact our community?

There are four themes that appear over multiple studies analyzing community gardens. There are direct and indirect impacts of maintaining a green
space.

Economic: In gardens that yield edible produce members have the potential of saving money by growing instead of buying their food. Due to the
nature of gardening, physical activity is required this has an indirect effect on people's medical costs as active individuals lessen their risk of disease.
Small economies can also sprout as vegetables, fruits, and even flowers can be sold to the community, friends, and family.

"[...] practicing better nutrition with fresh produce, gardeners

reduce their heart disease, type two diabetes, and obesity, saving
on medical care" (Flachs, 2010, as cited in Bellows, 2003).

Social Justice: A community garden is a local space for people to get food especially lower income and disadvantaged communities where food
deserts are most prevalent. In these areas grocery stores are limited and have low quality goods. A garden can compensate for the lack of these foods
by growing fruits and vegetables that are often difficult to obtain.

When I asked Nancy Cinatl from the Naperville Conservation Foundation about the
possibility of achieving a successful and functional community garden for all, she
discussed that it is possible in theory the only requirement is interest and motivation.
There are challenges to be expected while getting established that may require
innovative and creative solutions. Nancy mentioned how the city of Chicago doesn't
always have the best soil, but raised beds are an option that allow for good soil to be
brought in.
Image of raised garden beds: Wyatt, M. (n.d).

Environmentalism: The community's approach determines the environmental impact of

the garden. The ability to produce organic foods instead of purchasing foods from a
grocer reduces peoples carbon footprint. Techniques like composting and harvesting water through rain barrels combat climate change by reducing
waste and greenhouse gas emissions. In more urban settings a community garden fulfils the need for a greenspace and encourages people to spend
time in nature.

Social: Community gardens are places where a diverse group of people are able to interact and socialize. Promoting overall healthier social relations
and community ties. They become "third places" for people to socialize other than their home, school/work spaces. People who participate in
community gardens usually have an underlying interest and can quickly become a hobby for many.

Nancy Cinatl shared that her friend who lives in a local convalescent center was able to participate in a flower growing contest and won a prize for her
roses. She reflected on the idea of being of being older and still being able to be an active member in the community through events such as this is
"wonderful".

What is a “third place”?

Most adults spend a majority of their time in work settings and at home. A third place is an area that allows for social interactions outside of the
traditional home and work space. Third places can be parks, libraries, cafes, and other locations that facilitate conversation and interactions which
includes community gardens. The benefits of having a third place include giving the public a designated area for casual conversation and to form
valuable connections with community members. This is especially important for the elderly who are often secluded from the rest of society. A
community garden may benefit them as they can learn and talk with locals they would otherwise not have the chance to.

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5/2/23, 3:06 AM How Community Gardens Improve Quality of Life

"They are locations where we exchange ideas, have a good time,

and build relationships" (Butler et al., 2016).

How can you get involved?

Understanding your motivations to participate or initiate a community garden is a great start. Consider the following reasons as to why people enjoy
participating. A community garden can be a source of stress relief from daily routines. Many people seek out gardening to be more in nature. The
ability to partake in the growth of plants or crops is very fulfilling for many. Most people like connecting with like minded individuals and in turn creates
a greater sense of community.

Begin by reaching out to local farms or gardens that may already have community garden programs. There are many resources and websites that can
inform you on what type of garden it is which will allow you to determine if it is a good match for you and your interest.

References

Butler, S. M., & Diaz, C. (2017, August 22). "third places" as community builders. Brookings. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2016/09/14/third-places-as-community-builders/

Flachs. (2010). Food For Thought: The Social Impact of Community Gardens in the Greater Cleveland Area. Electronic Green Journal, 1(30), 1–.
https://doi.org/10.5070/G313010826

Kingsley, Foenander, E., & Bailey, A. (2019). “You feel like you’re part of something bigger”: exploring motivations for community garden participation
in Melbourne, Australia. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 745–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7108-3

Lovell, Husk, K., Bethel, A., & Garside, R. (2014). What are the health and well-being impacts of community gardening for adults and children: a mixed
method systematic review protocol. Environmental Evidence, 3(1), 20–. https://doi.org/10.1186/2047-2382-3-20

Wyatt, M. (n.d.). Maxwell Street Community Garden [photograph]. Chicago Community Gardeners Association. http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/?
s=wyatt

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