Creating Community Gardens

Big Whiz
Jul 29
9 min read

Updated: Jul 31

Community Gardening

“Hunger is not a problem. It is an obscenity. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a

single moment before starting to improve the world.”

- Anne Frank

“They got money for wars but can’t feed the poor.

-Tupac Shakur

It goes without saying that we are living in terrifying times. Fortunately for us, we are not the first to exist in such challenging days. Our ancestors, by way of their own trials and tribulations, left historical blueprints to the methods of their survival. The immutable human spirit harbors an unyielding desire to continue. What the single individual could never accomplish, the multitudes can. Our togetherness is our greatest strength. It is our strongest weapon against adversity. At present 23 out of every 10,000 people experience homelessness in America. Along with this atrocious displacement comes increased crime and astonishing rates of malnutrition in children and adults. According to theglobalstatistics.com. “Malnutrition in the Unites States encompasses various forms, including undernutrition, overweight and obesity. It affects individuals across different age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. What makes this even more mind-blowing is that Bloomberg states that as of 2025 there are 3,028 billionaires in the world with a net worth of 16.1 trillion dollars. This is a major blight on humanity itself. Here are some other incredible stats to ponder:

Interesting Facts About Homelessness in the US 2025

Fact	Detail
National Homeless Rate	23 out of every 10,000 Americans experience homelessness
Highest Risk Group	Youth of color are 83% more likely to become homeless
School Impact	Over 1 million public school students are homeless (2.2% of all students)
Veteran Gender Split	88% male veterans, 12% female veterans (more likely with children)
Racial Disparity	Black veterans represent 31% of homeless veterans despite being 13% of population
International Comparison	US has worst homelessness rate among industrialized nations
Public Concern	71.2% of Americans worry about experiencing homelessness themselves
Student Homelessness Growth	63% increase in homeless students over past 15 years
Veteran Success Story	55.6% decrease in veteran homelessness since 2010
Shelter Capacity	64% sheltered, 36% unsheltered nationwide
Gender Distribution 2024	59.6% cisgender men, 39.2% cisgender women
LGBTQ+ Population	1.2% transgender, nonbinary, questioning homeless Americans
California’s Share	Nearly 30% of all US homelessness concentrated in California
Chronic Homelessness	30% of individuals experience chronic homelessness patterns
Urban Concentration	60% of unsheltered homelessness occurs in urban areas

https://www.theglobalstatistics.com/united-states-homeless-statistics/

One powerful tool that is seeing a phenomenal resurgence is community gardening. A community garden (according to Ecolife) is any piece of land (publicly or privately held) that is cultivated by a group of people rather than a single family or individual. Unlike public parks and other green spaces maintained by local governments, community gardens are generally managed and controlled by a group of unpaid individuals or volunteers – usually the gardeners themselves. Gardens have been an integral part of many cultures throughout history. The first community gardens appeared in the 1890’s during the economic depression. These municipally sponsored plots sprung up in Detroit in

numerous vacant lots. Detroit has recently returned to transforming many of its vacant lots into gardens and nurseries. Detroit’s vacant lot gardening program, along with many others begin to decline in the 1900’s as the nation’s economy began improving. In contrast, Philadelphia had a very dedicated program that lasted into the 1920’s. As interest in vacant lot gardening began to wane, other programs took up the mantle like school gardens, wartime gardens, thrift gardens and victory gardens. During WWII these victory gardens were much needed sources of food for needy American families. During the recessions and depressions that America faced, many of its citizens suffered from acute conditions associated with malnutrition and poor diets. Aside from unintended weight loss or gain, poor diet includes symptoms like decreased appetite, tiredness or low energy levels, and struggles with everyday tasks.

Children, in particular, felt the brunt of poverty. Many in coastal cities would roam the docks in search of spoiled vegetables to bring home. Elsewhere, children begged at the doors of more well-off neighbors, hoping for stale bread, table scraps, or raw potato peelings. Said one childhood survivor of the Great Depression. “You get used to hunger. After the first few days it doesn’t even hurt; you just get weak.” In 1931 alone, there were at least twenty documented cases of starvation, in 1934, that number grew to 110 (owl.purdue.edu).

Overview of Malnutrition in the U.S.

Malnutrition in the United States encompasses various forms, including undernutrition, overweight, and obesity. It affects individuals across different age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Key Statistics

Prevalence of Malnutrition

Type of Malnutrition	Statistics
Overweight and Obesity	2.5 billion adults globally; 890 million living with obesity
Underweight	390 million adults globally
Child Stunting	149 million children under 5 globally
Child Wasting	45 million children under 5 globally

Food Insecurity

Approximately 13.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2023.
5.1% of households faced very low food security, often skipping meals due to cost.
13.8 million children lived in food-insecure households.

Risk Factors

Socioeconomic Status: Poverty significantly increases the risk of malnutrition.
Demographics: Women, infants, children, and adolescents are particularly vulnerable.
Health Impacts: Malnutrition can lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced productivity.

From https://duckduckgo.com/?q=malnutrion+facts+in+the+us&atb=v446-1&ia=web

Past experiences like these, though horrific, provide us with research that help us to prevent such struggles from repeating. Creating and maintaining gardens is no easy task, however failing to do so may take us down a familiar rabbit-hole of suffering and pain. I searched Greenleaf Communities to learn more about the ways community gardens benefit the communities they serve. Here is what I discovered:

Community Gardens

Help improve air and soil quality
Increase biodiversity of plants and animals
Reduce “food miles” that are required to transport nutritious food
Can replace impervious structures and improve water infiltration
Can reduce neighborhood waste through composting
Positively impact the urban micro-climate
Increase access to fresh foods
Improve food security
Increase physical activity through garden maintenance activities
Improve dietary habits through education
Increase fruit and vegetable intake
Reduce risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases
Improve mental health and promote relaxation
Gardens in urban areas are positively correlated with decreased crime rates
Vacant lands can lead to crime which can detrimentally impact the health of residents
Residents in areas with high crime rates may experience cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders
The consequences of vacant lands are decreased property values, drug use, and the illegal dumping of litter, tires and chemicals
Gardens can improve economic opportunities by training volunteers and selling food at farmers’ markets
Urban agriculture can teach residents useful skills in planning, food production and business
Improving vacant lots increased property values in New Kensington, Philadelphia by 30%

Now knowing all the wonderful benefits of community gardening, we would be foolish not to consider putting our efforts toward establishing more gardening programs in each state.

In my opinion, this is something that should be done globally. Of course, we would have to distinguish the types of gardens according to terrain and climate, but we know what areas are best suited for which crops. If we can prevent any child from experiencing the agony of hunger, then we have served a great purpose. Consider for a moment that this misfortune is not happening to strangers, but to you and your loved ones. There is no more demoralizing and dehumanizing feeling than not being able to feed yourself or your family. Let’s take a look at what it takes to create and maintain these plots in our own communities.

The Land

The design of a community garden depends heavily on factors like community need, climate and whether your harvest will be sold for profit, consumption or both. Some crops are grown to be sold to retailers or farmers’ markets, while others are used to distribute fruits and vegetables to those most in need. Ideal land will be found near available water

sources. As situations are not always ideal, any available land sources can be cultivated and made suitable. This may require more work, but here the end really does justify the means. Other factors to consider include: securing the necessary funds, soil preparation, plant selection, obtaining seeds and providing insurance in case of injuries. Let’s not forget adequate storage of gardening supplies and materials. The average size of a community garden plot is between 100 – 600 feet. Most community gardens range between $3,800 -$8,000, depending on size and scope. While finding free land programs and initiatives is rare, certain rural cities provide incentives for use of portions of free land to boost their populations and economies. In these cases, a well-designed plan and proof of funding is normally a required prerequisite. Vacant lots are

another great source of land. Search your town for vacant lots, check the city property records and contact the owner. Some property owners don’t even reside in the cities where they own property. In some cases, owners will agree to allow use of the lots for and agreed upon amount of time. Others will agree to use of their land in exchange for a portion of the harvest, that they can then consume or sell for money. Still many other will rent the space at an agreed upon rate. In this case the gardens harvest or a part of it can be sold to cover the costs. You can also charge a fee for use of some of the plots in the garden. A team can be setup to focus on researching grants that target community garden creation. Many funders and philanthropists recognize the need for community self-reliance and set aside monies to be used for this purpose. Initiatives such as the People’s Gardening Initiative provide funding as well. It is highly recommended to reach out to your local cooperative extension services. They are trained, experienced and knowledgeable in all things agriculture. They in fact have been a great source of much of the information provided for my research. In the event of last resort, you can apply for land loans for purchase of undeveloped areas. Be aware that these loans involve great risk, higher down payments and interest rates. If you take this option, it is imperative to consult a real estate agent who is expert in the area of land negotiations. Use your brain trust, engage your community and make them aware of your plans for establishing something that will be an advantage to the city. You may be surprised how helpful we can be to each other when we are on the same page.

Seeds and Equipment

Local seeds are perfect for your garden since they are adaptable to the local climate and soil conditions. This makes them easier to grow as they require less care. Native plants

better resist pests and disease. This reduces the need for any chemical treatments. Conducting a browser search for wholesale seeds will keep the cost of acquiring seeds to a minimum. Remember that budget is crucial in every aspect of creating and maintain your garden. A multitude of seed wholesalers exists, so it is important to negotiate to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. Community seed swaps are an excellent way of getting free seeds. The only caveat with this method is that you must have seeds for swapping. Local universities and community colleges will often have seeds they are willing to donate for this purpose. These same rules apply for locating sustainable gardening supplies. These include seeds, soils, fertilizers, tools and equipment. Joining and speaking with local gardening clubs is also advised. Again, I cannot emphasize strongly enough what amazing resources cooperative extension services are. Consult them at every step of your gardening plan!

The Build

Now that you have completed the plans and garnered the necessary seeds and equipment, it’s time for preparing the soil and protective covering. This means deciding whether to use individual plots, raised beds or greenhouses. More established gardens start with one of these and grow to include a composite of the three. Protecting the soil and plants from the elements is key. Soil runoff can degrade soil quality and vastly increase workload and growing time. For constructing cover for the crops, it is advised to consult neighborhood carpenters. They can give estimates for materials and labor. The more

volunteers you can gather, the better. Staying on budget is aided by the donation of any material that is suitable for the tasks at hand. Greenhouses and raised beds can be bought at wholesale rates at an alternative to building these. Keeping local weather in mind is vital to successful protection of soil and plants. Remember that community gardens are expected to grow and improve over time. Creating a stable base to improve upon helps with future add-ons. As always, it is recommended that you consult cooperative extension services for tips and recommendations. Rules have to be put in writing and posted in clear view for watering, weeding and maintenance schedules. Assigning tasks is essential for maintaining a healthy garden. Check city regulations for zoning, building and use of any chemicals and supplies. The EPA site should also be checked frequently to stay in compliance with any changes. The steps in this post are not a comprehensive set of rules for community gardening. They are mean to provide as much necessary information as possible. Community gardens normally become hubs for social interaction and discussion of community issues. Some people just pull up a chair, have a glass of wine and watch the bees do their work. That’s it family. I hope that you are excited about the challenge of creating a community garden to serve your community. Good luck and God speed!