North Carolina State University has developed a community garden that has caused amazing change in and around the college. This community garden has influenced the nutrition of participants in an amazing way. Many people are not able to eat healthy because of price, availability, and acceptance. When people worked with community gardens they were able to access this food in a safe and easy way which led to participants eating for nutritious meals. Many participants are eating many times more fruits and vegetables than those who did not have a home garden and were not involved in some type of garden initiative.
Along with this benefit, NC State employee Dr. Bradley, explains how community gardens can help a community by allowing youth a positive long term goal, bringing together people from various walks of life, and helping to beautify and improve the general health of the area. Stress is also decreased in participants who worked in and around the garden for a significant amount of time. By being around and in nature participants are able to to work and produce physical positive effects in their community. When students on campus have access to these resources and benefits their quality of life is improved from their viewpoint. Students view their life in a more positive manner and are more motivated and experience less stress when they have access to a community garden.
NC State has been working with and exploring community gardens for years and have developed ways and checklists for people to develop a community garden wherever they may be. As they are branching out they are incorporating more and more aspects into their plans. We are aiming to do something similar in our community. Our aim is to positively impact the most people possible and then help to extend our program into the community around ECU.
- Edible Landscape Initiative Team
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