Community Gardens

A community garden is any garden cultivated by a group of people. These gardens are grown through the collective efforts of any self-identified community, often members of a neighborhood, an organization, an institution such as a school or community center, or any other group. Growing both ornamental and edible plants, community gardens have historically emerged as a response to specific social crises. The contemporary expansion of community gardening throughout the United States is largely driven by popular interest in alternatives to conventional food. Community gardens are used to produce food for self-consumption, donation, or sale; as a tool for education; as places for recreation; to beautify neighborhoods; to support community development; and as important public spaces. Contemporary community gardens take a variety of forms—from unsanctioned ...