In the last year, over 7 million gardens were planted in the United States. “Shaping Federal Policies Toward Cities in Transition: A Policy Brief,” Greater Ohio Policy Center, 6. By Jesse Hirsch on December 6, 2013 . Upgrade Effect. Gardens may offer physical and mental health benefits by providing opportunities to. We find that gardens have significant positive effects, especially in the poorest neighborhoods. The upgrade effect benefits the entire community, as neighborhoods and businesses encourage each other to landscape and beautify the community. The effect also increased over time; as each year went by after the opening of a community garden, the prices of nearby properties increased more and more in relation to properties that did not have access to a community garden. At a community garden, you can borrow tools … Humans, plants and animals can all benefit from urban agriculture since it creates habitats and improves the ecology of the area. Eat healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. Finally, the overall effect(s) community gardens had on the issues discussed were recorded as positive, negative, mixed, or neutral. Health effects of community gardens. CON: Many community gardens have waiting lists of up to a year so it is difficult to get a plot. 2010. The Amazing Effects of a Neighborhood Garden A community garden can make a neighborhood beautiful and provide lots of wonderful produce. School and community gardens are growing movements with countless benefits. Athens contains multiple community gardens. In a review of the scholarly literature from 1999 to 2010, rigorous quantitative research studies on the effects of community gardens are found to be sparse; however, a larger body of qualitative data is available. “The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values,” Real Estate Economics 36:2, 241–83, 243. Community gardens are collaborative projects on shared open spaces where participants share in the maintenance and products of the garden, including healthful and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. And even though I like building the soil in my own space, I couldn't resist attending a community-gardener panel discussion to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values Abstract Cities across the United States that have considerable vacant land are debating whether to foster community gardens on that land, while cities with land shortages are debating when to replace gardens with other uses. Two examples from Minnesota illustrate the point. Gardens can supply fresh food and improve the appearance of the landscape, but growing your own vegetables or flowers comes with some potential drawbacks. Dec 06, 2013 . Community gardening is defined by its shared nature; gardeners work collectively to manage a garden for shared benefit. 2008. Thievery, Fraud, Fistfights and Weed: The Other Side of Community Gardens . Community gardens have been shown to have positive health effects on those who participate in the programs, particularly in the areas of decreasing body mass index and lower rates of obesity. Not only do students get to plant, hoe, pick, rake and tend the garden — they get to learn all about healthy food and where it comes from. Small conflicts can be exacerbated by cultural differences. (3) Finally, the overall effect(s) community gardens had on the issues discussed were recorded as positive, negative, mixed, or neutral. More? My community garden does not charge a fee to join, but many do. According to the National Gardening Association, 1 million new food-specific gardens will be planted this year. All of these issues make improving children’s fruit and vegetable consumption a challenging task. Studies have found that community gardens in schools have been found to improve average body mass index in children. Personality clashes are among the problems with community gardens. Start with project management software, implement the EPA guidelines, and use the right materials to get the job done. Here’s the scoop: They strengthen connections and encourage the entire community to work together. PRO: Gardening can become very expensive if you purchase gadgets and tools. On the other hand, a study from New York University, which focused on the impact community gardens have on residential properties in the neighborhood, found that there is a positive effect on sale prices of residential properties within a 1000 foot radius of a community garden. Jesse Hirsch . As parts of the community begin to improve their urban green spaces, other areas will be forced to stay competitive and beautify their areas as well.