What is a Community Garden?
Very Simply, it is:
Any piece of land gardened by a group of people.
The mission of the La Manzanilla Community Garden is:
- to provide families land, tools, seeds and water they can use to grow food
- to provide instruction and knowledge sharing in organic gardening methods
- to promote healthly lifestyles
- to build community
- provide income opportunities for interested individuals who would like to grow flowers, herbs and vegetables for sale to local stores and restaurants
- Beautify a large undeveloped lot in the central part of the village
- promote community pride
Benefits of Community Gardens:*
- Improves the quality of life for people in the garden
- Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development
- Stimulates Social Interaction
- Encourages Self-Reliance
- Beautifies Neighborhoods
- Produces Nutritious Food
- Reduces Family Food Budgets
- Conserves Resources
- Creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education
- Reduces Crime
- Preserves Green Space
- Creates income opportunities and economic development
- Reduces city heat from streets and parking lots
- Provides opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections
*compliments of the American Community Garden Association