Back to Earth, Back to Nature!
A community garden can take many forms and provide many resources. On the surface, it’s a food source. But deeper than that, it’s a gathering place for people with shared interests, passions, and values. Bringing the joy of gardening to youth is a rewarding experience for all, helping children to understand the concepts of the environment, food supply, growing, and life cycles.
Community Gardens in the past have worked to solve economic or environmental needs-based problems in our country. Today, we have the opportunity to utilize our Community Gardens for different, even more important reasons. With the uncertainty of our times and the decrease of our food’s nutritional value due to our environment, it’s time to take another look at this important resource.
The Thorp Community Garden Program consists of an acre of pesticide-free fields. The Thorp Community Garden is unique in that gardeners work in the entire garden, with no plots assigned and the freedom to harvest when produce is needed. We all work together to manage the larger community garden site.
Gardening is one of the most popular recreational activities in America, providing an opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and access to a wider variety of nutritious and healthy food than might otherwise be available. The Thorp Community Garden Club recognizes community gardening as an activity that contributes to the health and well-being of the wider community.
Gardening together provides the opportunity for education, environmental awareness, social interaction among diverse people, inter-generational and cross-cultural connections, a connection to the environment and what it takes for sustainable gardening. Community Gardens can improve nutrition, exercise habits, mental health, and our environment – all at the same time!