Grow. Partnership. Community
Why Community Gardening?
There’s something truly special about tending a garden with others. Whether it’s family, friends or folk from the wider community, growing together takes on a whole new dimension to solitary gardening. It’s sociable, fun and full of laughter. And all those intimidating jobs (you know the type: digging, weeding, and anything involving a shovel) seem less overwhelming when there are more of you to tackle them.
The number of community gardens has soared over the past decade. You can pick any one of a number of reasons behind this: more of us living without a garden of our own, a response to the financial crisis, or a revolt against endless screen time? Who knows! Either way, the rise of the community garden can only be a force for good.
Benefits of Community Gardens
Growing your own food can save money and provide instant access to ultra-fresh, chemical-free food. It’s good for the planet and encourages a more ecologically aware attitude among those who do it. And then there’s the opportunity to set an example to the next generation, showing them where their food comes from and why it matters.
Community gardens offer all of this, plus the powerful added ingredient of social cohesion. Shared experiences and goals work wonders to promote understanding between volunteers taking part. Gardeners are, by and large, lovely people. And when you bring lovely people together, you’re on to a really good thing!
Food-growing projects are a great way to get participants speaking the same language: the language of plants. With plenty of jobs on hand there’s bound to be something to suit every ability or skill, so it’s an exceptionally inclusive way of bringing people together.