Imagine a community garden not only educating its members of the community but also preventing crime. Community gardens have been proven to show how its effectiveness can provide for one another and now help lower crime. This can help elevate a community into its best potential, bringing safety and protection through a garden. The Garden Matters states “While vacant lots can be magnets for litter and criminal activity, community gardens are observed and managed by the gardeners, resulting in a cleaner space and more active local community. All of this often comes at little or no cost to the city” (Schmelzkopf, 1995).
If communities took the time to create a community garden not one individual would go hungry. There would be less welfare use,
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In the Real Estate Economics by Loan Voicu and Vicki Been both explain how developers run into a constant issue of a vacant area that has the potential to grow into a succeeding community garden or used for housing property. This is the debate that if there is a potential spot or piece of land that can be used for a community garden there will not be a sudden property value increase as if a complex where to be built there would be an increase by eleven percent. However this is not the most valid argument, property values vary and change throughout each county, city, and state. Also each year there is either an increase or decrease in property values because of the constant change in the economy. Been and Voicu claim that “In preliminary research, we also investigated the effect of community gardens on neighboring commercial property values. Findings suggest that gardens do not have any significant immediate impacts on neighboring commercial property values, although some benefits may occur over time.” (Loan Voicu and Vicki Been 243). However the University of Chicago has conducted research that shows the raise in property values because of community gardens. “The study found that community gardens have statistically significant positive effects on values of property within 1,000 feet of the garden. Interestingly, the authors found that these positive effects were strongest in lower income level …show more content…
Sharing food from the garden, as well as favorite recipes, contributes to relationship building which in turn, can lead to community cohesion and enhanced levels of acceptance and belonging. The latter is related to social capital, an important aspect of well being not so widely reported as the more tangible physical health benefits of community gardens.” This displays how positive mental and physical health are contributed by community gardens. Also the center of disease control states that “connecting people to gardening in five core fields: plant-based education, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, community development, and responsible home gardening.” These are fundamental necessities when creating a project that helps assists a community into better success, in this case food understanding and food security is a topic that many Americans lack in education. As a community we need to help upraise each other in education and health. The definition of health is described by the dictionary as "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." In America 3.2 million children are going hungry each day, this lack of nutrients at adolescence can cause many mental and growth defects. Why are we allowing this to happen?
Gradually, a garden can be a comfort place for a person. It can even bring a community together. Maybe it can also symbolize the meaning to a belief. A garden can benefit the gardener who is growing it or a community that is building one for a good cause. In “Sowing Change” by Donna Freedman, gardens means a lot to the community of North Lawndale, in Chicago. In “Marigolds” by Eugenia Collier, a garden full of a few Marigolds means the world to someone.
It is true that growing foods on a farm show that there 's no bad “chemicals” added in the food which starts all out as seeds. If only it weren’t for the fact that again, college students just don’t have time. Along with that, some students live alone in an apartment complex and, I’m sure not too many apartments have an outside area big enough for a private garden. As a college student myself, I find it easier just going to the grocery stores and farmer’s markets to get my food; then again, I still live with my parents and they pay for the groceries. Thankfully, I don’t have to travel to the real farms to get farm-fresh produce; the food comes to local places like the hospital and downtown on certain dates. I suppose a tip for college students; in reality, traveling to the grocery store is easier because it’s a once-per-week-deal while keeping watch over a garden is an every-day-deal and students have things to keep up
...nough. “If you pour all these resources into keeping kids alive, without following up on their long-term health through more extensive gardening projects and nutritional education programs, then you’re just wasting everyone’s time, money, and energy (Dettwyler 1994: 145).”
The victory garden or home garden was something that was highly popular during World War I and II. People would grow their own produce to help with the local food supply and to ease pressure on the local economy. At that time, almost one third of vegetable that were produced in the United States came from people’s home gardening (Wikipedia.org). Since then, there has been a massive decrease in the home garden. Store bought produce had become common place and as a result people have stopped growing their own food. However, by encouraging home gardening, communities can have sustainable, more nutritious produce readily available.
Even just the pick of a tomato can start a ripple effect. The simple pick of a bright red tomato can inspire others to do the same and choose healthy, organic, colorful foods over processed, genetically modified food. Having a garden will do more than just inspire, it will provide. It will provide for the growing children in schools eager to learn. A garden will help a student’s brain function increase. A study shows that students who ate healthy scored higher on English and and science tests than students who did not eat healthy https://www.wilder.org/Wilder-Research/Publications/Studies/Fueling%20Academic%20Performance%20-%20Strategies%20to%20Foster%20Healthy%20Eating%20Among%20Students/Nutrition%20and%20Students'%20Academic%20Performance.pdf Because of this study and the effects of processed food on the body, schools should begin to add a greenhouse and/or outside garden to their campus. The schools should also make gardening a mandatory class every year. This program will need to be approved by central offices, but with a community supporting the idea the program is sure to thrive. A petition should also be made so that the central office knows exactly what an improvement these gardens will provide. With this garden program students will provided with the necessary nutrients needed for the human body to sustain a healthy life. Schools will begin to turn away from processed, genetically modified food, which causes severe
A community health assessment of the Hillside-Quadra area was performed and considered various aspects of the community, including the population, the socioeconomic environment, and health and social services. Personal communication with some of the residents determined that food insecurity is of major significance for many in the community. “Food insecurity exists within a household when one or more members do not have access to the variety or quantity of food they need due to lack of money” (Statistics Canada, 2015). Community kitchens (CK), are easily adapted to an IFK concept, have been implemented by two communities within Victoria (Appendix B; Personal Communication) and are capable of serving as a public health initiative that benefits the communities they serve (Iacovou et al.,
The documentary film “The Garden,” by Scott Hamilton Kennedy captivates and captures the South Central Los Angeles farmers struggles and conflicts they faced trying to save the South Central Farm. The 14 acre garden grows fresh vegetables and fruits, such as: corn, beans, papayas, and etc. It was one of the largest community garden and became known as the urban garden. Doris Bloch, the founder of the community garden, said in the documentary that the land could be use to build a garden for the community residents to grow their own food. Bloch said “ very low income family that deserves to grow their own food… land, people, food, it's a pretty simple idea. happy days.” The farmers took an advantage to use that land to grow their own vegetables
If the community organizes a locavore movement, it will forge an easier method for individuals to acquire all the nutrients they need and a larger supply of healthy foods. A greater amount of people are malnourished in vitamins and minerals (some they may not even know exists) which most processed food do not contain. This is why fresh foods from local farmer’s markets are superior considering that “‘Nowadays, we know a lot more about the naturally occurring substances in produce,’ said [Cynthia] Sass. ‘It’s not just vitamins and minerals,
A major issue that is occurring in America is a phenomena known as “food deserts”, most are located in urban areas and it's difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food. Whereas in the past, food deserts were thought to be solved with just placing a grocery store in the area, but with times it has become an issue that people are not picking the best nutritional option. This issue is not only making grocery store in food deserts are practically useless and not really eliminating the issue of food deserts because even when they are given a better nutritional option, and people are not taking it. In my perspective, it takes more than a grocery store to eliminate ‘food deserts’. It's more about demonstrating the good of picking the nutritional option and how it can help them and their families. For example, “Those who live in these areas are often subject to poor diets as a result and are at a greater risk of becoming obese or developing chronic diseases.”(Corapi, 2014).
"We all grew up in communities with grandmothers who cooked two, three vegetables that you had to eat. There was no ifs, ands or buts about it. But that's because many of our grandparents, they had community gardens; there was the vegetable man that came around. There were many other resources that allowed them to have access. So it's not that people don't know or don't want to do the right thing; they just have to have access to the foods that they know will make their families healthier ("Michelle Obama in Chicago," 2011). People who have options of vegetables and fish products in grocery stores eat better and will have better outcome on health (Edberg, 2007).
Food insecurity is an issue faced by millions of Americans every day, and the biggest group affected by this is working families with children. Food insecurity is so big that the United States government has now recognized it and provided a definition for it. The United States government has defined food insecurity as “a household level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food” (USDA.gov). Food banks and anti-hunger advocates agree that some of the causes of food insecurity are stagnant wages, increase in housing costs, unemployment, and inflation of the cost of food. These factors have caused food banks to see a change in the groups of people needing assistance. Doug O’Brien, director of public policy and research at Chicago-based Second Harvest says “’we’ve seen a real shift in who we serve. A decade ago, it was almost always homeless, single men and chronic substance abusers. Now we have children and working families at soup kitchens’” (Koch). These families that are feeling the effects of food insecurity will not be only ones affected by it, but all of America. Studies have shown that there is a link between food security, performance in the classroom, and obesity. If this issue is not faced head on, America will have a generation of children not fully prepared for the workforce and high health insurance rates due to obesity health issues.
Community-oriented policing is widely used in the United States. In fact, the Community Capacity Development Office developed the Weed and Seed policy not only aims at combating criminal activities specific hotspot areas but it also seeks to revamp and repair the deterioration o...
Purchasing my first home was a monumental moment for me, yet there were so many steps involved. The acquisition was a process, far more extensive than I had ever realized. I had select criteria, and felt I satisfied this well. As a mother I needed a clean and safe environment in which to raise my daughter; as a first time home-buyer, I had to do this within a modest budget. I found a quiet little neighborhood on the edge of town; it was a dream come true. It was the perfect family neighborhood. I bought a cute little house in a cul-de-sac, no more apartments, and no more stringent guidelines. I had a protected investment and felt in control. I am not an experienced home-buyer, so it is quite possible I missed a few warning signs. My neighborhood is replete with rental properties. Neighbors came and went, few with lasting ties. There was a noticeable decline in property maintenance, as well as morale. If you’ve ever mistaken the neighbor’s home for a yard sale, then you know what must be done. In order to protect our investments, the residents of Windsor Village need to organize a homeowner’s association.
Have you ever considered what is in the food you are feeding your children? Most foods that are bought at the neighborhood grocery stores are considered global foods which are packed with additives and chemicals making them far less nutritious than local produce from the community farmer‘s market. After much research, I have concluded that it is better to buy produce which is grown locally rather than produce which is sourced globally (from other countries). I think this is important because most people, like myself, buy global foods and do not realize how much better local foods are for the local economy, the global environment, and our personal nutrition. Nutrition is vital to the healthy of everyone especially children, so with the purchase of local fresh produce, it can ease the worry in parents of what children as well as ourselves are ingesting. Produce grown locally are healthier for toddlers because they contain more nutrition in the foods, meaning less additives and a better taste, helping them properly develop.
Healthy and affordable food choices on the go or even just in the store is a huge and worldwide ongoing problem that of course cannot be fixed overnight. To help start and put one foot forward to improvements in the availability of healthy food options and choices in lower income neighborhoods, we as a community and a whole should do the following.