The Role of Community Gardens in Urban Food Security and Environmental Sustainability Essay

Introduction

The absence of nutritious food is one of the major problems that face urban areas, but it can be mitigated through community gardens. There is limited space for growing vegetables, fruits, and other essential plants. However, the effective use of community-managed open spaces can help boost food production in urban areas. A healthy lifestyle, accessibility to fresh produce, landscape beautification, and environmental protection are some advantages. Therefore, this paper explores the historical context of community gardens and their application in Greenbackville, Virginia, and the world.

Natural Resources Involved

Plants need water for essential food-making processes such as photosynthesis. The resource is formed through the condensation of vapor in the environment and can be obtained from lakes, rivers, and taps, among others (Abd El-Mageed et al., 2022). On the other hand, soil is created through weathering of rocks and natural erosion (Mao et al., 2023). The resource provides the community garden plants with nutrients and support, which can be obtained from the open spaces. Meanwhile, minerals are formed through complicated interactions of weathered rocks, animal wastes, and decaying matter (Mao et al., 2023). They are used for plant growth and development and can be obtained naturally from soils or fertilizers.

Topic Importance

The overarching topic of community gardens is essential to me, American society, and the global community. I will gain environmental conservation skills by understanding the necessary skills and resources to create a community-managed garden. American society can benefit from the topic by effectively utilizing open spaces for nutritious food production (Newell et al., 2022). Food shortage and climatic changes can be encumbered at the global level, making the earth a conducive planet for everyone to live in. Therefore, the current topic is critical to the American and global communities, as well as me.

History and Contemporary Viewpoint

Background

Community gardens were essential in promoting social organization in a particular society. Emerging problems such as climate change and food shortages in urban areas necessitated a collective solution among the dwellers (Delshad, 2022). Consequently, the U.S. and other countries governments encouraged using gardens managed by a single community. Unity among community members and improved social and environmental awareness were some of the community gardens’ advantages (Hume et al., 2022). This form of urban space benefited the U.S. and the global community.

Historical Awareness in America and Usage

The U.S. is one of the world’s most populous countries, which was affected by World Wars I and II. Although community gardens were common in the 1960s and 1970s, their history in the country dates back to the 18th century (Kirsch et al., 2022). Moravians in North Carolina created the first urban space of this kind. The Native American tribes and First Nations peoples were the pioneers of utilizing open urban spaces for gardening (Kirsch et al., 2022). The latter communities managed their lands as a group before the arrival of immigrants.

Awareness of community gardens in the U.S. gained momentum in the 19th century when the government decided to intervene. In the 1890s, Detroit was the first urban area to use vacant plots for gardening programs (Newell et al., 2022). The city’s municipal government sponsored the move in response to the 1893 economic recession (Newell et al., 2022). The success of the “Pingree’s Potato Patches” program encouraged other cities, such as Boston and San Francisco, to implement initiatives that promoted the use of open spaces for the production of nutritious food.

World Wars I and II and the Great Depression were some of the significant economic downturns that threatened U.S. food security. Consequently, the government encouraged maximum utilization of vacant plots within American cities for gardening purposes (Geron et al., 2023). Between 1929 and 1932, Relief Gardens, which were communally managed, were used to counter domestic food shortages during the Great Depression (Taylor et al., 2022). Liberty Gardens and Victory Gardens were common during World War I and II, respectively (Taylor et al., 2022). The success of the community gardens during the various economic pandemics in the U.S. necessitated their use to date.

Historical Awareness Globally and Usage

The use of community gardens to overcome food shortages and promote landscape aesthetics was also a common practice in other countries. The same was encouraged to boost food security in Australia and New Zealand, which World War I threatened. The use of city spaces in Australia grew to the extent of forming Community Gardens Australia (CGA), which brings together city farmers from different parts of the country (Göttl & Penker, 2020). Unlike in the U.S., the practice in New Zealand was mainly focused on aesthetic purposes and the beautification of cities (Montefrio et al., 2021). These territorial spaces were, therefore, of the essence in promoting a conducive city environment.

The economic crises that World Wars I and II necessitated made it crucial for Germany to seek other alternative food sources besides the rural gardens. Additionally, the German government encouraged using vacant city plots as political and social structures (Göttl & Penker, 2020). The gardens protected the ruling political classes from those who protested against them (Göttl & Penker, 2020). Another significant difference between Germany and other countries is the involvement of many people in managing the open spaces. At the global level, farms in urban areas benefited food production and social and political organization.

Significant Contributors

Various individuals contributed to growing and adopting community gardens in the U.S. and beyond. Former mayor of Detroit, Mayor Hazen Pingree, pioneered the “Pingree’s Potato Patches” between 1889 and 1897 (Poling, 2020). Fannie Griscom Parsons was among the philanthropists who advocated for children’s gardening practices in New York City (Solomon, 2023). The latter helped overcome the waning interest of adults in using vacant open spaces in cities. In the 1900s, the philanthropist created an educational garden in DeWitt Clinton Park (Solomon, 2023). The formation of the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) played a significant role in bringing together community gardeners.

Apart from the philanthropists and social movements such as ACGA, some U.S. presidents significantly contributed to developing communally managed gardens within American cities. For instance, President Woodrow Wilson called upon all Americans to create vegetable gardens using urban spaces (Payen et al., 2022). According to him, such practice would ward off the threat to food security (Payen et al., 2022). Therefore, the use of community gardens in U.S. cities was encouraged by various players in political and philanthropic realms.

Local Real-World Applications and Specific Steps

Opportunities For Change

The contemporary world’s radical social and economic changes have increased the need for food security and environmental conservation. Various opportunities currently exist to enhance the adoption of community gardens among city dwellers. Although the emergence of COVID-19 was detrimental to economic growth, it provided sufficient time for city residents to focus on communal gardening (Lal, 2020). Various organizations adopted a working-from-home (WFH)approach in response to the pandemic (Iwu et al., 2022). Up to date, the practice is common in many organizations, giving the city farmers sufficient time to monitor their gardens.

Another opportunity available for the adoption of community gardens is the increasing support from the government and social movements. With the need to boost global food security, various public institutions have sensitized city dwellers on the benefits of community gardens (Eshun & Denton, 2022). Additionally, such institutions provide resources such as land needed for successful gardening activities (Eshun & Denton, 2022). Improved environmental sustainability awareness through encouraging a circular economy is another opportunity available. Many municipal governments take part in the promotion of sustainable spaces within cities. Maximization of the highlighted opportunities can be beneficial to urban residents.

Hurdles to Overcome

Creating a community garden in Greenbackville, Virginia, can be associated with various hurdles that must be avoided. Firstly, the city zoning rules and regulations make acquiring an open space where the garden can be set up challenging. For instance, according to the city’s zoning bylaws, agricultural activities can only be done within A-1 districts (Accomack County, n.d.).

Therefore, the change may not benefit individuals living in areas not marked as A-1 districts. Secondly, setting up the space requires many resources, including human labor and finances, to keep them running. For instance, in 2021, the cost of an acre of land in Virginia was estimated at $4,700(Ellison, 2021). The cost is expected to have increased in recent years given the appreciation character of lands in urban areas.

Thirdly, there can be resistance from the targeted community members who oppose agricultural activities in the cities. Such resistance can be exacerbated by the need for more land to erect buildings for residential purposes (Turner et al., 2023). Lastly, understanding the crops that will do well in the identified space needs extensive agricultural research and effective community engagement. Such processes can be time-consuming, especially for those who work from their offices (Verlaan & Hochstenbach, 2022). While the hurdles may prove difficult for a successful project, effective planning and resource acquisition will be central.

Action Plan Outline

Establishing open agricultural spaces withinGreenbackville requires various steps that must be precisely executed. Given the strict agricultural bylaws and regulations that govern land acquisition in the town, the project will be costly and time-consuming. Additionally, the change will be associated with both short and long-term costs. Consequently, necessary personnel and skills must be identified for a smooth process (Kiers et al., 2022). Furthermore, considering the existing local laws and regulations will help avoid legal battles with municipal government and the community served.

Short and Long-term Costs

Short-term costs are those that will be incurred during the inception of the change. One such cost is the acquisition of land. Land in Greenbackville, which is in Accomack County, is estimated to cost an average of $4,700(Ellison, 2021). The transfer of the open spaces from the owners may as well be associated with legal costs. For instance, closing costs in Virginia are estimated at $7,349 (Caginalp, 2023). Furthermore, the community garden will need an extensive and modernized irrigation system that will cost up to $10,00 per acre (Moore, 2023). Therefore, sufficient finances are needed for a successful process.

Meanwhile, long-term costs will be incurred as the garden serves its purpose in the future. One such cost is the acquisition of agricultural specialists who will investigate the soil and the most appropriate crop as time goes by (Delshad, 2022). Moreover, the personnel attending the garden for weeding and digging will need wages (Delshad, 2022). Given that the acquired land will be within a town, paying the annual land rate is necessary, which is capped at 0.75% in Virginia (Cloyne et al., 2022). Given the project’s long-term benefits, an effective cost-cutting measure will be crucial.

Personnel and Skills Needed

Various personnel and skills are essential in creating a community garden in Greenbackville. A plumber will be needed to develop an irrigation and sprinkler system, which is essential for watering plants (Göttl & Penker, 2020). Individuals specializing in soil content will be employed to help identify crops that will do well in the identified space. Security guards will play the central role of ensuring the space is free from human and animal destruction. Meanwhile, water conservation and sustainable farming skills are essential in managing the urban farming space. A combination of qualified personnel and necessary skills will be beneficial.

Timeframe

The project’s planning stage can take up to 4 months, given the time needed to acquire the necessary personnel and other resources. Land acquisition may take a long time due to the legal actions needed and the conveyance process (Göttl & Penker, 2020). The implementation stage can take up to 5 months and will involve training the locals and planting the crops. Some of the most limiting time‐based action items include site preparation, which should be consistent with the seasonal climate changes (Kirsch et al., 2022). Therefore, starting the entire project may take up to 8 calendar months, depending on the time to acquire land.

Local Laws and Regulations

The Code of Virginia will be the primary legislation guiding the project from preparation to implementation. Chapter 17 of the code, Open-Space Land Act, will guide how to engage with the local community in Greenbackville when acquiring public land. For instance, code 10.1-1701 provides that public bodies can designate land for use (LIS, 2023). Another crucial local regulation in Accomack County is the Community Garden rules, which require such spaces to be rented only to county residents (LIS, 2023). Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations will also be crucial in adopting effective agricultural practices during the project.

Global Significance, Impact, and Applications

Local Versus Global Significance and Impact

Creating community gardens has differing significances and impacts at local, Greenbackville, and global levels. The project will help residents access affordable, nutritious food (Lal, 2020). Additionally, the town’s effective use of idle land will be enhanced while engaging the local communities (Lampert et al., 2021). Meanwhile, at a global level, the project will enhance sustainable farming and food security. The environment will be conserved since many residents in Greenbackville will avoid inorganic foodstuff. Therefore, the change will benefit the Greenbackvillecommunity and the world at large.

Community Gardening in Greenbackville versus Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa, is a good example of a global application of the change that can be compared with that in Greenbackville, Virginia. The first difference in the application of the project between the two areas is management. Unlike in Greenbackville, in Cape Town, volunteers often manage and create the garden (Kanosvamhira & Tevera, 2022).

Consequently, starting farming activities in Cape Town is more straightforward than in Greenbackville. The second difference is that the cost of labor in Cape Town is cheaper than in Greenbackville. While the average cost of labor in the U.S. is $41.03 per hour, in South Africa, it is $1.30 (Bandiera et al., 2022). Community gardens’ long- and short-term costs are lesser in Cape Town than in Greenbackville.

Although the two areas have differences in applying open-space gardens, they have some similarities. Greenbackville and Cape Town projects are undertaken for aesthetic and food production (Kanosvamhira & Tevera, 2022). Planting of flowers beautifies the areas where community gardens are erected. The farms also provide affordable and nutritious food, the best alternative to fast food. In both areas, the national and local governments support community gardens. Both Cape Town and Greenbaville local governments encourage sustainable farming in urban areas. Although it is more expensive to create a community garden in Greenbackville than in Cape Town, support from local authorities is beneficial in both areas.

Conclusion

Natural Resources Use and Environmental Impact

Community gardens positively impact the environment and lifestyles of urban dwellers. The approach eliminates overdependence on non-nutritious food, which is common in cities. The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices helps conserve the environment and eliminate increased emissions into it. Natural resources such as water are used sparingly and in a manner that does not affect them. Moreover, the practice helps maintain the soil structure in urban areas.

Skills and Resources Required

Setting up a community garden in Greenbackville requires various skills and resources. Sustainable farming skills are essential in helping conserve the environment. Meanwhile, agricultural research skills and knowledge help make effective decisions. Land, agricultural professions, finances, farming tools, and legal resources are essential in establishing a thriving community garden. Therefore, sufficient resources must be mobilized when creating a community-managed farm in Greenbackville.

Reflection

The research process, from making the project’s outline to the final paper, was insightful and educative. During milestones 1 and 2, I failed to include some quantitative data to back up my arguments. However, upon following feedback from my professor, I learned that quantitative data is crucial when comparing the costs of establishing an open-space garden. Therefore, my knowledge of the topic has changed throughout the research since I have understood how community gardens’ costs, impacts, and significance differ in the U.S. and the world.

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