The Benefits of Community Gardens in Windsor Essex County

by Pathway to Potential • Friday, March 4th, 2011 at 9:00 am • Posted in Community>Events>News

Many Windsor Essex County residents are unable to access healthy food as a result of inadequate income. In 2009 there were approximately 235,000 visits to Windsor and Essex County food banks. This number displays the need for healthy food alternatives in our region as many people cannot afford to purchase food in a secure and reliable manner. Community gardens can be a powerful tool in offsetting this difficulty. Community gardens provide members with the opportunity to grow their own fruits and vegetables. The sole benefit of a healthier diet resulting in access to healthy food is clear, however there are many other benefits of community gardens that are not as pronounced. For example, the Public Health Agency of Canada (2008) has stated the two main health benefits obtained through participating in the growth and development of community gardens include physical activity and stress relief, both of which can greatly improve an individual’s quality of life. Community gardens also provide members with a sense of personal well being, responsibility, education, and the creation of friendships. In addition to these benefits, participants may develop a sense of independence in obtaining healthy food on their own.  They also distinguish a sense of community, and provide greater food security by relying less on global imports all while beautifying the area. Finally, environmental benefits of community gardens include allowing for groundwater recharge, improving air quality, and promoting sustainability.

There are a number of benefits to community gardens. Two local community gardens that are available for low income families in the Windsor Essex County region include the Unemployed Help Centre Community Garden and The Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (WECHC) (formerly Sandwich Community Health Centre).  Both of these community gardens have shown great results in allowing for people with low income to provide a greater sense of food security for themselves and their family and as such have expanded to include more participants. If you are looking to grow food for you and your family please look into one of the community gardens mentioned above or other community gardens that may be closer to your area. If you are interested in learning more about community gardens and other sustainable healthy food systems in our community, I suggest you attend the Food Charter Forum hosted by the Food Advisory Working Group of Windsor and Essex County at 7pm on March 10, 2011 in the Oak Room in Vanier Hall. Admission is free and open to all who are interested.

Written by Sara Budinsky, MSW Intern, Pathway to Potential, Windsor-Essex County

About Pathway to Potential

Pathway to Potential (P2P) is a community-based collaborative strategy for reducing poverty and ensuring social and economic well-being for the residents of Windsor and Essex County. Poverty reduction is a critical first step toward creating a strong, healthy, and vibrant community. Because poverty affects the entire community, we see poverty reduction as a shared responsibility and believe there is a place for everyone within this strategy. This network includes a multi-sector roundtable and the following eight working groups: Affordable Housing Affordable Transportation Early Learning and Childcare Education and Employment Health Income Support Public Awareness and Advocacy and Voices Against Poverty Pathway to Potential received $2.1 million in funding from the City of Windsor and the County of Essex. A large portion of these funds were used to support numerous local agencies in the delivery of programs to meet the needs of children and families living on a low-income. For more information on Pathway to Potential please visit www.pathwaytopotential.ca

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