Community Gardens at this University Essay

On top of the issue above, there is an annual increase in population of nearly 76,000,000 (Worldometers.info, 2016) and the world’s urban population is also on the increase; expected to be at 70% of the planet’s population by 2050 (Berg, 2016).

As urban development progressively changes people’s living behaviors, gentrification has created new urban movements for everyone to follow. It refers to the special migration in population who is seeking either a better living space and/or a better employment environment through an intra-city moving. As many studies have discovered, the future global population growth will only take place in the urban area. It is projected to be a 70% of the 9 billion future populations to live in cities in 2050. (Maarten Hajer 61) As the observable trend along with the major bus routes in San Francisco and Oakland, it makes people believe that gentrification will become an unpreventable force to

The research found the average beds size and rate of community garden plot in NL are as; 10’x10’ raised bed, 4’x10’ raised bed, 8’x8’ raised bed, 4’x8’ raised bed, 4’x4’' table-height bed, 3’x3’ child’s raised bed. It is very difficult to fix the rate charged for a community garden plot in NL as factors such as location, demand, and local economic conditions come into play. Community gardens rely extensively on funding and volunteers. The rate charged for a community garden plot in NL ranges from $10 to $60 depending on plot size.

Miller High School has a need to teach and show students how to live a healthy lifestyle. The lunches served have fruits and vegetables, but they are usually frozen, soggy, or beyond fresh; they are unappetizing and don’t encourage students to eat healthy. Miller schools could be healthier and more educated by starting a school wide vegetable garden. Coxhealth could work to fulfill its mission by assisting Miller as they start this garden.

“Visible food production in downtown areas, street medians, and school yards increases food literacy” (Kratz). One of the benefits of urban farming is food literacy. From having gardens located in the city, they are more visible and people will become more literate in food. It is very educational and can help to provide a more diverse diet to people.

A town garden could provide everyone with fresh, organic foods. This would improve our community and how we treat each other. Finding a new found respect for people that would maintain and manage the crops. The town garden could be for anyone and everyone and is open the people in need.

Urbanization has been constant over the last few hundred years. It continues even today and will continue with the constant increase in world population. Urbanization affects all levels of society and an accommodating urban environment is a necessity. But as humans we haven’t really been good at it. The process of urbanization can vary by country. Within the urban communities the political economy determines the existence of social classes.

Citizens can come anytime to help manage the garden. The government can fund the garden to make sure it stays healthy. Though, community members need to take into consideration on where the garden is built; growing crops in the Winter or up North won’t do any good.

However, I have learned the most about collaborative community action through the Wisconsin Idea Fellowship that I was awarded last year. Known as “The Patio Tomato Project”, I came up with the idea for my service project with my global food security professor after learning more about urban food insecurity and food deserts. The project aims to increase availability of fresh produce to low-income housing by hosting workshops at

With over 100 neighborhoods and around three million people, Chicago is known for its diversity and culture. But, many communities in Chicago, specifically southern neighborhoods, are food desserts. These areas where fresh affordable produce is difficult to acquire. Community gardening is an effort that provides a space to strengthen relationships while simultaneously providing physical aid to food insecure people. Community gardens have been rising in popularity and for good reason. These gardens not only provide aid and allow growth for comminutes, but also help combat climate change and its negative effects.

In the past, we had seen rapid growth in European and American cities like London in the early 20th century. Today, however, the growth in Third World cities dwarfs the growth we 've seen in the past. London had seen its greatest population growth from 1800-1910, where it grew seven times larger; today cities like Dhaka, Kinshasa and Lagos have grown up to forty times each in just half of the time. In China, Mike cites David Drakakis-Smith stating that the country is "urbanizing at a speed unprecedented in human history - added more city dwellers in the '80s than did all of Europe and Russia in the entire nineteenth century!" (page 2).

From the start of urbanization the belief in many nations all throughout history has been that cities are where the prosperity of the nation is held. But is this really a valid argument or does that simply referring to a select few? The urban population has grown rapidly since 1950 form 746 million to 3.9 billion people as of 2014. Many of these number exist in North America with 82% of the population living in cities, Europe with 73%, and Latin America with 80%. Asia and Africa on the other hand are far behind having only 40 – 48% of population living in urban areas. It is said by the World Bank that “Africa is witnessing an unprecedented projected population growth of more than 40,000 new urban inhabitants per day between now and 2040” (Voice of America). Although for some countries population growth as large as this can be a good thing but in regards to many developing countries that have cities with a lack of a strong infrastructure, a weak economic hold, lack of a sustainable government, and a poor quality of life, the population influx could cause a major issue in the progress of development and therefore make urbanization a highly negative thing if these issues are not properly addressed.

The environment will benefit from community gardens because it provides green spaces in communities that are surrounded by concrete and high rises. Urban gardening is critical to sustaining the environment for the future. Many of the residents are from low income families and do not have the social-economical means to access fresh food and open recreational space and services. Families find it hard to pay bills and afford better foods for their family and food stamps are not enough. A food pantry was established in the city that fed hungry residents who need assistance. 3000 to 20000 pounds of food are given away to about 200 families weekly. Produce such as cucumbers, apples, cherries, pears, peaches, plums, peppers from Caribbean and flowers are grown.

In order to save money and have control over one’s own food, it would be in one’s best interest to start a garden. Not only is the gardener in control of their garden but they also are in control of their diet. With the produce that was made with hard work so it’s used in order to not go to waste, whether that’s from eating it or sharing it with others.

Workshops will be set up to teach and demonstrate how to grow fruit and vegetables, as well as address solutions to any adverse situations that may arise whilst growing food. After the first initial set of workshops at the start of the project access to information in the form of booklets should be given to all plot holders. Workshops should not be needed after the initial start-up period as the other allotment holders can help guide and advise new plot holders.