Community Gardens Provide Good, Local Food

Good Food Found Locally

If you’re like me, you don’t give much thought to being able to purchase the food you need and like. Within just a few square miles, I have access to multiple grocery stores and farmers’ markets. And honestly, many of us leave such busy lives, we get in our cars, make our weekly trip to the grocery store and don’t spend time deliberately thinking through what produce is available and where the produce comes from.

This is not the experience that many of our neighbors face each week as they make decisions about what to eat or what meals to make. Whether due to income, distance from grocery stores or farmers’ markets, or lack of transportation – many people in Raleigh and surrounding communities lack access to healthy and affordable foods.

A Place at the Table’s vision focuses on community and on good food – for all.  That’s why we also are an advocate for locally sourced foods. And when our café opens, our vision is to work with local farmers, community gardens, and nonprofits as much as possible.

What are community gardens?

A community garden is a piece of land (publicly or privately owned) which a group of people garden and grow fresh plants, fruits and vegetables.  Community gardens are often developed in urban areas where there are “food deserts” – where people have limited access to fresh produce.

What are the benefits of community gardens?

One of the key benefits of community gardens is providing access to fresh, healthier foods. But there are other benefits. Community gardens help increase a sense of community, provide opportunities for children and adults to learn about local, sustainable agriculture and have a positive impact on the environment.

Good food can bring us together in so many ways. Take a few minutes this week to research options for purchasing foods from local farmers and gardens. Your body and your neighbor will thank you.

See you at the table and maybe at our (hint, hint) community garden soon!