Benefits of Community Gardens: Health Improvement - Physical and Mental, Decrease in Crime

Community gardening Description and Benefits Community gardens are accessible to a range of community members, usually located on public land or at a community service organisation. Their form is usually designed around the community’s desires and needs,... More

Community gardening Description and Benefits Community gardens are accessible to a range of community members, usually located on public land or at a community service organisation. Their form is usually designed around the community’s desires and needs, but can take the form of a series of plots which are then used by a family or other group. Urban community gardens may improve dietary intake and improved access to fruit and vegetables (Joan Twiss et al. , September 2003). Garden-based learning programs, an alternative approach to traditional nutrition education, are becoming increasingly popular. There is yet little research that assesses the outcomes of these school garden programs (Ozer, 2006) but emerging evidence from a few small studies suggests that they:  improve young children’s willingness to try new vegetables (Morris, 2001)  increase the level of students’ nutritional knowledge (Viola, 2006)  increase consumption of fruits and vegetables in young people (McAleese, 2 Less