Community gardens are usually gardened collectively by a group of people. They are places where neighbors can congregate, interact, and learn from one another. Gardens are open spaces to grow food, recreate, and relax. They play an important role in beautifying the neighborhood and help in building community by bringing neighbors together. There are so many benefits to community gardening like eating fresh fruits and vegetables; engaging in physical activity; building skills; creating green space; beautifying vacant lots; revitalizing communities in industrial areas; reviving and beautifying public parks; decreasing violence in some neighborhoods; and improving social well-being through strengthening social connections.
As I learn more about community gardening, I am amazed at the movement across the country. According to the American Community Gardening Association, there are over 18,000 community gardens in the U.S. and Canada. There are numerous community gardens through the Omaha metropolitan area; however, no community gardens exist in South Omaha.
Understanding the community and appropriate messaging strategies is imperative for designing any community initiative especially those that require community participation and engagement, such as a community garden. Currently, there is a community planning team to develop a community garden in South Omaha. We invite you to participate in a short survey to share your opinions about community gardening: South Omaha Community Garden Survey.
Athena Ramos 