Masters of Health Magazine March 2020 | Page 33

Since 1940, with the mechanization of farming, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, and GMO’s/glyphosate, mineral content of food has plummeted.

As a result, human health has suffered. We see so many degenerative diseases becoming more common in relation to the decrease in the mineral content of food. People are not getting the appropriate amounts of critical elements/minerals needed to build enzymes, which are needed to build healthy DNA, which causes gaps called genetic markers, which are the pre-disease states that set people up for poor health. This is why community-based projects are so important to the overall health of the community. With proper soil care, plant care, ecosystem care, and people care, the quality of health is improved.

There is a direct connection between gut health, brain health, emotional health, and overall health, so improving access to fresh produce is extremely important in my opinion.

A 2011 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that not only did community gardeners consume more fruits and vegetables than either home gardeners or non-gardeners, but also that community gardens can improve neighborhood social capital, literally offering common ground to bridge across groups and generations.

When people begin to learn how to garden, this also creates an interest in preparing healthy food for a healthier life in the long run.

Number 4: Climate Change**

A victory garden, front yard garden, backyard garden, or community garden also contributes to creating a resilient system – especially important with unpredictable weather extremes.

Growing gardens in a way to avoid excess tillage and encourage deep, living roots will allow greater and faster water infiltration during heavy rain.

Soil that remains covered in living or decaying mulch keeps the soil cool and moist during times of extreme heat and drought. By decreasing soil tillage and keeping the soil covered, we are also preventing the erosion of topsoil and oxidation of carbon into the atmosphere.

Growing healthy plants will also boost the amount of carbon your piece of land is sequestering from the air. This carbon acts as a filter for water that moves through your land so that the water that runs off is cleaner than when it arrived.

Number 5: Building Community

As the community garden brings people together, it creates a support system. People come together over a shared interest and form relationships and increase their empathy for one another.

This support system allows people to act out of a more balanced state of mind as fear is reduced.