Community Garden Magazine Issue Ten June 2016 Community Garden Magazine Issue Ten June 2016 | Page 17

THE POWER OF GREENSPACE June 2, 2016 By Mike Shelton, ScottsMiracle-Gro Sustainability Manager With the arrival of spring traditionally comes a yearning to spend more time outside in our backyards – cultivating vegetable gardens, planting new flowers or simply enjoying the sunshine. However, with recent water quality and drought challenges, the importance of caring for a lawn or garden can quickly be forgotten. But now, more than ever, we need these spaces: more than just lush backdrops, landscapes and green spaces are vital for the continued health and vitality of our families and communities. The benefits of landscapes go far beyond our own backyard; they play an important role in our society. Landscapes prevent soil erosion and absorb rainwater to improve drainage, provide an outdoor area for families to play, reduce noise pollution, clean the air, and more. 17