Community Gardens & Urban Farms
Community gardens are spaces or smaller-scale urban agriculture sites where organizations, families and individuals can come together to grow food to eat or, in some cases, to donate; whereas urban farms grow produce on a larger scale for sale. Community gardens and urban farms are a form of urban agriculture. This refers to the wide array of activities that involve raising, cultivating, processing, marketing and distributing food in urban areas.
Not all communities have the same food environments. Some communities have very little healthy food options in their food environment and that’s a problem. Making it easier to eat healthy by increasing access to healthy foods creates healthier communities
Benefits Of Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture in its many forms benefits communities in many ways.
Promotes Health
Expands residents’ access to fresh, healthy foods and decreases hunger.
Creates safer roadways and reduces injury
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions caused by transporting food, and can be a local food source in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Provides green space that can prevent, for example, storm water runoff.
Drives Economy
May provide jobs for local residents, boost property values, promote community engagement, and support crime prevention by activating unused community space.
Discover Community Gardens/Urban Farms Near You
Locations identified on the Healthy HotSpot map are making healthy living easier for local residents by increasing availability and access to affordable, fresh and healthy foods.
Interested in Urban Agriculture?
Learn More About Land Use Policies
Seeding the City: Land Use Policies to Promote Urban Agriculture
Be Inspired
Read about the Giving Garden in Maywood, Illinois
Become a Recognized Healthy HotSpot
To become a recognized organization or community with a community garden or urban farm, email [email protected] for more information.
