Community Gardens
While attending college at Wabash Valley College I had the unique experience of creating, designing, and maintaining a community garden. The time I spent in working with fellow gardeners and horticulture time, lit my passion for community gardens and their unparalleled ability to change individuals lives. Along with working the Wabash Valley College Community Garden, I was able to intern with Lawerence County Extension 4-H Meal Garden. While interning I learned about scheduling garden folks to work and problem solving in food donation gardens. As a professional I hope to continue my work with community gardens and do my part to educate the communities the immediate impact gardens provide.
Lawerence County 4-H Meal Garden
Audrey Hepburn knew what she was talking about when she said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” (Hepburn, 2015) Audrey’s famous quote applies to community gardens in America. When communities gather together, they are declaring that they believe in tomorrow but more importantly the community members believe in who they share in their future. Community gardens date back to the 1800’s and are an essential part of the United States history. Community gardens impact society in a complex, beautiful way by building up their neighborhoods and their members. Gardens change children and adults through their health by providing healthy, nutritionally safe food, lowering crime rates, set students on a path to success, and help the urban population reconnect with the earth. These gardens created in urban jungles, and each garden has a society all of its own. Community gardens can take a group of people who feel completely disconnected to their society and build the community into a safe and welcoming place to live.