There are two main types of community gardens: private or individual gardens and shared or communal gardens. Many communal gardens are shared by individuals who grow, harvest, and share the fruit of the plants. Another type of garden is the individual or self-permitted one. Here, a person can choose what and how to grow it.
Individual gardens have just as many benefits as community gardens.
They are a good form of exercise and help to relieve stress. Additionally, the garden offers healthy foods that help to improve an individual’s health. Another benefit is that it helps to save money by using homegrown vegetables. Additionally, it can also be a source of income through selling some of the produce to friends, family, and neighboring stores.
Here are some examples of community gardens:
Cooperative GardensÂ
The greatest benefit of a cooperative garden is the ability to share in the harvest. The garden is build on a large space where you can easily access the whole garden thanks to their wide paths. The garden is managed by all the members. Examples of cooperative gardens include faith based or charitable organizations. It is great for gardeners who feel tired and stressed after work. Gardening offers exercise for the members and a way to relieve stress.
However, cooperative gardens can be difficult to grow in small spaces. It restricts the variety of plants and flowers that are possible to grow. The types of crops that can grow in school gardens are limited to fruits and basic vegetables. Which is another form of cooperative garden.
Experts argue that schools can integrate community gardens and school vegetable programs. They encourage healthy eating habits and life skills and provide low-cost access and nutritious vegetables for children. Most community gardens are located on the main campus. Children are encouraged to plant their vegetables as they learn how to take care of their plants, share their knowledge with other students, and enjoy the fruits and veggies.
Youth gardens
Many college students don’t know how to plant and harvest vegetables. It is one of the advantages of creating neighborhood gardens. Students need to learn how to grow vegetables in healthy soil and how to care for them. These skills can be used to transfer knowledge to the classroom or students at college.
Students can sell vegetables in their school gardens or local food markets to get exposure to new products and flavors in their food. The proceeds from the sale will pay for the produce and encourage others to grow organic vegetables. From the profits the students can purchase products they like from the market and then buy other produce they are interested in and not in their garden. Students will save money by not having to buy fresh produce all the time.
Students interested in producing more than vegetables might consider other types of community gardens, such as fruit gardens. You might also consider being creative especially if the plot of land does not allow for an outdoor vegetable plot. You can also grow greens in potted containers in the space you have for example on a balcony or window.
Entrepreneurial gardens
In today’s society, many children do not know how food is grown. They know food comes from the supermarket. They have never had a chance to see a garden, let alone understanding how food is grown. Entrepreneurial gardens offer children, youth, and the community an opportunity to grow produce. The food is then sold to restaurants and supermarkets to raise finances.
Many community gardeners are always looking for ways to increase their profits and attract new customers. You can purchase greenhouse kits from your local nursery or online. They are available for novice and experienced gardeners alike.
Therapeutic gardens
This type of garden is designed to improve social and mental health. It caters to the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of the users. It includes caregivers, family, friends, or visitors. Locations where therapeutic gardens are found within the community, include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, retirement communities, and outpatient treatment centers.
The beauty of therapeutic gardens is that they can be either designed for active gardening programs or as a quiet space for reflection. The design incorporates creating a waterfall or water pond with soothing waters, using color creatively, and accentuating the garden’s beauty with sculptures, stones, and pots.
Working in a therapeutic garden helps people to connect with nature and improve social skills. Additionally, the garden helps to improve motor skills, concentration as well as eye-hand coordination. It is especially helpful for individuals recovering from surgery to improve motor control and create a sense of independence.
The different types of gardens offer various benefits and successes to individuals. The bottom line is that they all provide communal benefits to the participants. Whether it involves developing a beautiful space for the community, teaching life skills, or growing nutritious organic foods for themselves. Community gardens need to be evaluated in terms of their ability to provide the benefits that the community desires.