By: Germaine Greer

A community garden is a great way to help you, your family, and your neighbors. Before grocery stores, folks only had two ways to obtain food; grow it or trade it. There are all types of gardens. You can start with a simple backyard garden or maybe you are interested in a community garden. A garden on a larger plot of land will help feed not only yourself, but your neighbor. In these difficult times, especially with the rising food costs, it is something to definitely consider. Living in a city area? No problem. City folks have started gardens on their rooftops, and in vacant lots. A community garden is also a great way to get neighbors together, communicating in ways besides computers, and cell phones. It harkens back to simpler times, before economic stressors, job pressures, and worrying over job losses. It’s a great way to get children in touch with going back to nature, and participating in the actual process of growing, (and eating!) something they have personally created. It can be a way of starting to get people back to being, “neighbors”, again. The “seeds of hope-harvest pride,” site has good basic information and a number of links that can help people get started in community gardens.

What better inspiration than our first lady, Michelle Obama, who started a garden on the white house property this spring! Her children helped participate in the start of the garden. The produce that is grown is prepared in the white house kitchen, and served to the first family and guests who attend dinners at the white house itself. Michelle Obama certainly planted the “seeds” in many peoples’ minds about starting a garden of their own. Another good site to research is http://www.communitygarden.org. It’s a national organization that oversees many of the community gardens in the nation. They also have tips on starting and maintaining a community garden.

Maybe you just want to start small. That’s fine! Start with your own family garden.  It’s a great way for mom, dad, and the kids to relax in the outdoors on the weekends. Turn off the TV, cell phones, computers and all other excess, “noise.” Get back to nature. Children will love the idea. All children love to get their hands in the dirt, and get dirty digging holes. Children have a short attention span, so let them begin by planting radishes. They will come up in 3-4 days. Children also have an endless fascination with growing things. When they grow their own produce, it’s a given that they will eat their OWN vegetables! After all, they created it!  Another idea is to take the kids to the library, (its free!) and take books out on gardening for children. They can read with you and learn all about the process of gardening for themselves. Let them choose a small area of the garden for their own, “vegetable patch” and let them choose what type of veggies they would like to grow in that patch. The learning process is invaluable for children, and not only will this help in the family food budget, but bring families closer in these hard economic times.

Financially, you cannot go wrong. All you need are a few good books (remember your local public library is a great resource, and it’s free). A few packets of seeds, a few tools, fertilizer, water, and a patch of land, and you’re off growing your own nutritionally packed food. All organic and naturally grown! If you find you have grown more produce than you can consume, why not share with local food banks/pantries? Share your harvest with neighbors in the area, who maybe less fortunate than you. One such organization is Ample Harvest.  It is an organization that enables backyard gardeners to share excess garden produce with your local food pantry/food bank.

Feeding yourself, and/or your community, whatever you choose, is a small investment with great returns. You/they are eating the best food nature has produced at a relatively low cost, and gets you out in the great outdoors away from all the noise of modern society. It also takes your mind off your troubles for a time, and gets you together with family and friends, and you may meet a few new friends, too! If you have grown more than you can possibly eat, you will be helping others in need. What’s more spiritually satisfying than that? It’s a win-win situation for all involved! So, research online, gather family and friends, get a few good books, or experienced gardeners, comfortable clothes, your own little “patch of heaven,” and begin! HAPPY GARDENING TO ALL!