Homegrown: Community Gardens

On a short trip last week, I was surprised to see an urban farm right next to our hotel in downtown St. Louis.

The plots looked productive, with plenty of space for inner-city gardeners.

Urban farms and other community gardens are catching on across the country, providing opportunities for fresh, healthy vegetables for people who otherwise would have limited access.

A spotlight on local efforts will take place in Cedar Rapids later this month.

Dora Bopp, of Buds Community Garden Network, says seven gardens will be showcased during an open house from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19.

Buds representatives will be available at each site to discuss their efforts and the new Plant a Row for the Hungry initiative.

The network is a program of the HACAP Food Reservoir, connecting people who want to garden with the resources they need to grow fresh produce. 

Gardens open to the public will be at the following sites: Alliance Church, 1622 42nd St. NE; Matthew 25 Urban Farm, 1430 Ellis Blvd. NW; Neighborhood Church, 701 25th St NE; Olivet Neighborhood Mission, 230 10th St NW; Wellington Heights, 392 15th St SE,  Horizons Meals on Wheels, 819 5th St SE and Catherine McAuley Center, 1055 5

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Ave SE.

 Here is more from Buds:

On Fri. Aug. 19

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from 4-6pm, Buds – Community Garden Network will offer the opportunity for the public to visit and learn more about area community gardens. Garden sites open to the public for this event will be:

 AllianceChurch– 1622 42

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St. NE

All produce is distributed through the church's food pantry, Abundance of Love.

 Catherine McAuley Center– 1055 5

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Ave SE

Produce is shared by residents and students of Catherine McAuley.

 Horizons Meals on Wheels– 819 5

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St SE

Produce is distributed to participants of the Meals on Wheels program.

 Matthew 25 Urban Farm – 1430 Ellis Blvd NW

Produce is used for their Summer Meals Program and excess is sold to support Cultivate Hope programming.

 Neighborhood Church– 701 25

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St NE

All produce is distributed through the church's food pantry whose focus is seniors.

 Olivet Neighborhood Mission– 230 10

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St NW

All produce is distributed through the church's food pantry.

 Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association – 392 15

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St SE

All produce is distributed to neighborhood residents; excess is donated to area food pantries.

 There will be a garden and Buds representative available at each site. Each site will have a listing of participating gardens, information about Buds – Community Garden Network and their new ‘Plant a Row for the Hungry' initiative established by the Garden Writer's Association.

 For additional information visit www.budsgardennetwork.org or contact Dora Bopp at 319.739.0051.

             Coincidentally, today the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued the following that noted the health benefits of community gardens:

Community gardening may help people grow a healthier lifestyle. Researchers saw that in survey data from Denver residents in 2006 and 2007.

Jill Litt of the Colorado School of Public Health says community gardeners ate better: ``About 25 percent of people who did not garden met standard health advice, which is about five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. About 35 percent of home gardeners and 50 percent of community gardeners met these recommendations.'' 

Litt says the social aspect of community gardening also seemed to improve physical activity and appreciation of people's neighborhoods.

The study in the American Journal of Public Health was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.