In the past few years there has been a dramatic increase in urban agriculture in cities across the country. Urban farms and community gardens, which are other names for urban agriculture, provide numerous benefits to the communities that they are in. The push for more community gardens has been motivated by the desire to make greener cities. In Philadelphia, specifically, urban farms have been created in vacant lots in all parts of the city but they can be in many other unused places like rooftops, parks, walls, fences, balconies, basements, and courtyards (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 8). Locally grown food from community gardens is also a more secure and controlled source of food because it does not force community members to rely on other parts of the country or world to get their food (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 5). Urban farms do many positive things for the environment. Urban Agriculture decreases pollution because food that is bought locally does not need to be shipped across the country to grocery stores in trucks (“Urban Farming Is Growing a Green Future”, 1). Gardens that are on rooftops collect water and reduce the amount of runoff water from storms that go into the sewage systems and they reduce the wasted heat from roofs (“Urban Agriculture”, 1). Rooftop gardens can also help cool the building they are on which would increase the heating or cooling costs. They increase green space in cities, therefore reducing the urban heat island effect, improving air quality and creating habitats for the animal population in the community (“Urban Agriculture”, 1). While there are numerous environmental benefits provided by urban agriculture there are also a large number of health benefits for community members they engage in urban agriculture.
Like many other cities in the United States, Philadelphia is a post-industrial city with many vacant lots. These lots usually end up being a dumping site for the community creating physical and economic burdens by reducing property values and increasing crime rates (“Urban Agriculture”, 1). Urban farms are a good way to make efficient use of these abandoned areas and they provide the community with a number of health benefits. Just by cleaning up the lot communities can be benefited because a cleaner and more open space promotes general community wellness (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 6). Along with community wellness it has been shown that exposure to plants induces relaxation and reduces stress, fear, and anger (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 6). Even small community gardens can produce enough food for a few families and that is better than no fresh food at all. Many urban communities lack the financial resources to buy fresh food or they cannot get to a store that sells it. With a community garden they can have easier access to it. Fruits and vegetables have essential vitamins and nutrients that are required to live a healthy life and if a person does not get enough of them the quality of their life can suffer (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 7). A lot of lower income people do not buy fresh fruits and vegetables because the retail prices are too high but they can use community gardens to grow them for cheaper or if they are not involved in the growing process they can purchase food from them at rates that are usually cheaper (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 8). While the food that is produced in the urban farms is beneficial to the community by meeting their nutritional needs, working in the gardens can also have health benefits. Community members that are active in the gardens get experience with fresh food, which can positively impact their dietary habits because they will understand the food better and be able to transform the raw food into delicious cooked food that they will want to eat more often (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 8). Gardeners are also more likely to eat a lot of what they grow because they will feel a sense of pride that they made it on their own and they know that it is good, healthy food (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 4). Gardening is a good source of physical activity and exposure to sunlight, which is sometimes hard to get when living in a city (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 8). As well as exercise, gardening promotes mental relaxation and socialization with other members of the community (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 8). It also is a way to engage in an activity that has positive effects on the individual and benefits the community as a whole. When emergency relief is needed for natural disasters in the area urban farm donations are helpful to people who have been affected because emergency responding groups often lack fresh food (Bellows, Brown, Smit, 9). Urban agriculture provides many health benefits for people who are involved in working in them and for people in the community that buy fresh food from their local gardens.
The two Philadelphia community gardens that I have worked in for this project have different effects on each community that they are in. The community garden on 16th and Christian street had all raised beds and community members could rent them for each season and plant plants for their family to use. This was a great use of the open lot because families could grow different vegetables that their individual families needed and wanted. The community garden on Diamond and 11th street was more of a community-based project. Members of the community worked together to build their garden and they volunteer to work in it. The community has really come together as a whole because they have something that unites them. While each urban farm is different they all have provide countless benefits to their community members.
Urban agriculture is an effective method to green cities, provide healthy local food, and to better communities. Urban farms benefit the environment by reducing pollution, creating green space, and reduce runoff water. They also benefit community members by providing fresh healthy food, engaging members in productive community activities, and cleaning up neighborhoods by making using abandoned space. Urban agriculture is something that many more people and communities should engage in because the benefits are too great to pass up.
Works Cited
Bellows, Anne C., PhD, Katherine Brown, PhD, and Jac Smit, MCP. “Health Benefits of Urban Agriculture.” (n.d.): n. pag.
“Urban Agriculture.” Literature Review. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Web.
“Urban Farming Is Growing a Green Future.” National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2013.
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