6 Environmental Benefits of Community Gardens in New York

New York is just like other urban areas, full of skyscrapers and tall buildings, meaning that you hardly see any green spaces.

Yet, gardens and green spaces are beneficial for the health and wellbeing of humans by providing a sense of calm and peace and increasing access to nutritious foods.

So, how can it be possibility to enjoy green spaces in New York?

One of the best solutions is community gardens because they can help to improve air quality and provide New Yorkers with access to healthy and fresh foods. This article looks at the 6 environmental benefits of community gardens in New York.

What Is A Community Garden?

A community garden is a communal space set aside for planting herbs, vegetables, trees, and flowers and is tended by the people living in that area. The space could have been idle land or a dumping site that has been converted to restore the place. Let’s look at the six environmental benefits of community gardens in New York.

6 Environmental Benefits of Community Gardens in New York

1. Cleaner air

In the absence of community gardens, New York City is a hub of helicopters, cars, and industries, which means excess production of harmful pollutants that have long term negative health outcomes.

Thus, community gardens have plants that absorb harmful gases, filter, and release oxygen, which purifies the air. Therefore, it is a good way to reduce pollution and ensure better health for New Yorkers.

2. Helps in the management of stormwater

During heavy rains, some areas may experience flooding. With community gardens, the soil medium absorbs excess water, reduces strain on the building, and reduces the maintenance cost due to potential damages.

The reason is that soil absorbs excess water and prevents runoff of stormwater into the streets, which would cause flooding and affect the lives of people living in New York.

3. Increases biodiversity

The presence of plants, trees, and gardens attracts pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. This ensures the preservation of endangered species and improves biodiversity.

Moreover, the presence of pollinators due to the vibrant flowers promotes urban beekeeping, which is a good way to increase access to organic honey, which has numerous health benefits in the city.

4. Access to fresh food

Without community gardens, the city may have to rely on other rural areas to get fresh produce, which may translate to higher transport costs and, ultimately, expensive food prices.

Urban agriculture fights the food crisis and helps the community produce their own foods and improve access to nutritious foods for everyone. In addition, farming also reduces the cost of food and promotes healthy eating among the population due to the reduced cost of transport.

For that reason, community gardening is perfect for low-income neighborhoods with irregular access to food to increase food security.

Another benefit is that the availability of community gardens increases the consumption of fruits and vegetables because they are readily available, and people do not have to go for miles before they access grocery stores. Thus, it is one of the best ways to teach kids to eat vegetables by involving them in planting, maintaining and harvesting vegetables.

Lastly, food from the community gardens can be preserved and donated to food banks when in surplus to areas where people have less access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

5. Strengthens the sense of community

Community gardens pave the way for people to interact and collaborate on useful activities. Working together on the gardens brings together people from all races, ages, and backgrounds.

This promotes healthy societal ties, increases the physical activity of people as they work for a common goal, and creates a sense of belonging. It can help to reduce insecurity and promote safe neighborhoods for all.

The community gardens offer a communal meeting space where residents can gather and share ideas and collaborate on gardening conversations.

Consequently, it also makes it easy for the organizations to plan for training on organic farming for the city dwellers, which increases the knowledge of dietary habits and empowers the residents.

6. Create a healthy living environment for all

Cities are prone to blocked sewers due to the combined sewer system where all water goes to the same place. This means that during excess rain, the rainwater can overflood the system due to bursts and pollute the rivers.

On the flip side, the presence of community gardens can help to reduce water pollution because it absorb excess water and prevents it from overflowing into the sewer system. It also reduces littering and conversion of public spaces into damping sites that can be hideouts for criminals.

Furthermore, it improves the outlook of the area with flowers and greenery, which provide a calming effect for people and help reduce anxiety and stress. Having a place to walk around and connect with nature is what people need in a busy city like New York.

As a result, a healthy environment increases property values and ensures people can earn from their homes by selling the local produce and also attracting investors in the area, which reduces the rate of unemployment and curbs crime in the city.

FAQs

Why are community gardens important in New York?

Community gardens transform the skyscraper’s jungle into green scenery with beautiful flowers and herb gardens. They provide access to organic foods and ensure food security.

How many community gardens are there in New York?

There are about 600 community gardens in New York, which play a big role in reducing air pollution, which is one of the most common environmental issues in New York.

What is the role of community gardens in East New York?

The role of community gardens in East New York is to add beautiful green scenery and ensure the production of fresh foods for the community.

What is the big garden called in New York?

The big garden in New York is called the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). The garden was established in 1891 and sits on a 250 acre land in Bronx Park with over one million plants.

Final Thoughts

Community gardens are an important part of improving the quality of life in cities. They promote food security and ensure the local communities, especially low-income neighborhoods, have food. Aside from the 6 environmental benefits of community gardens, many organizations are able to come in and provide grants and support the local farmers to do research and improve food production.

When people are engaged and busy, it also reduces crime rates, increases physical activity, beautifies the city, and ensures a safe space for all.

Visit the local community garden in New York today and find out how you can participate in making New York a healthy space for all.

6 Environmental Benefits of Community Gardens in New York

What Is A Community Garden?