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Eagle Heights Community Gardens
The Eagle Heights Community Gardens are composed of a huge number of plots sandwiched between Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Eagle Heights Apartments, and the Shorewood Hills Neighborhood. The gardens boast of being “one of the oldest and largest community gardens in the United States,” and claim a diverse, polyglot community with approximately 60 languages spoken (Eagle Heights Community Gardens, n.d.). There is an active governing committee that hosts meetings, community gatherings, and functions as an informal source of gardening advice (Eagle Heights Community Gardens, n.d.). The gardens themselves are open to visitors and provide a well-kept community space for families, residents, and naturalists.
Large community gardens such as these with active and involved leaders can serve as cornerstones of local communities. The communities fostered by these gardens can act as a crucial source of social capital, as relationships are built between gardeners and local residents. The health benefits of community gardens extend beyond social capital. Studies have shown that community gardens improve access to fruits and vegetables and increase physical activity for gardeners (What Works for Health, n.d.). In addition, adults and teenagers who work in community gardens report eating about half a cup more fruits and vegetables than those who do not, and can have a lower BMI than their non-gardening counterparts (What Works for Health, n.d.). Organizations such as Eagle Heights Community Gardens, with their strong sources of education for novice gardeners and diverse appeal, can serve as a model for other urban settings.
Eagle Heights Community Gardens
The Eagle Heights Community Gardens are composed of a huge number of plots sandwiched between Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Eagle Heights Apartments, and the Shorewood Hills Neighborhood. The gardens boast of being “one of the oldest and largest community gardens in the United States,” and claim a diverse, polyglot community with approximately 60 languages spoken (Eagle Heights Community Gardens, n.d.). There is an active governing committee that hosts meetings, community gatherings, and functions as an informal source of gardening advice (Eagle Heights Community Gardens, n.d.). The gardens themselves are open to visitors and provide a well-kept community space for families, residents, and naturalists.
Large community gardens such as these with active and involved leaders can serve as cornerstones of local communities. The communities fostered by these gardens can act as a crucial source of social capital, as relationships are built between gardeners and local residents. The health benefits of community gardens extend beyond social capital. Studies have shown that community gardens improve access to fruits and vegetables and increase physical activity for gardeners (What Works for Health, n.d.). In addition, adults and teenagers who work in community gardens report eating about half a cup more fruits and vegetables than those who do not, and can have a lower BMI than their non-gardening counterparts (What Works for Health, n.d.). Organizations such as Eagle Heights Community Gardens, with their strong sources of education for novice gardeners and diverse appeal, can serve as a model for other urban settings.