• Community gardening is a healthy , inexpensive activity for youth that can bring them closer to nature , and allow them to interact with each other in a socially meaningful and physically productive way .
Food Production
• Many community gardeners , especially those from immigrant communities , take advantage of food production in community gardens to provide a significant source of food and / or income .
• Community gardens allow families and individuals without land of their own the opportunity to produce food .
• Community gardens provide access to nutritionally rich foods that may otherwise be unavailable to low-income families and individuals .
• Urban agriculture is 3-5 times more productive per acre than traditional large-scale farming !
• Community gardens donate thousands of pounds of fresh produce to food pantries and involve people in processes that provide food security and alleviate hunger .
Health
• Studies have shown that community gardeners and their children eat healthier diets than do non-gardening families .
• Eating locally produced food reduces asthma rates , because children are able to consume manageable amounts of local pollen and develop immunities .
• Exposure to green space reduces stress and increases a sense of wellness and belonging .
• Increasing the consumption of fresh local produce is one of the best ways to address childhood lead poisoning .
• The benefits of Horticulture Therapy can be and are used to great advantage in community gardens .
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