It was just bare ground with perhaps some grass here and there this time last year, but now it is producing a bountiful harvest of vegetables and flowers. The Sessions Street Community Garden is quite a scene, with pumpkins and sunflowers around the fence, and loads of tomatoes, eggplants, squash, and cucumbers. Even broccoli. Every plot was taken, and I'm sure many other people are plotting for a plot next year.
See Farm Fresh Rhode Island's list of Community Gardens in Rhode Island. If you live in or near Providence, maybe you can find where there's a community garden near you. Many people in cities are interested in Community Gardens because the soil in these gardens is tested and lead-free, unlike the soil around many older urban homes. Other reasons people want a plot is that their yards are too shady for vegetables, which require at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, or they're renting or the yard is paved over for parking.
Here are Farm Fresh RI's 10 reasons why you might want to grow your own food:
Why community gardening?
1) Help beautify your community
2) Get the nutrition you need & enjoy tastier food!
3) Save money
4) Protect future generations
5) Prevent soil erosion
6) Protect water quality
7) Save energy
8) Keep chemicals off your plate
9) Protect farm workers & help small farmers
10) Promote biodiversity
I have heard there are Community Gardens in other towns and cities around Rhode Island, for instance in Warwick. We'll compile a complete list someday, although that will be a moving target with gardens cropping up all over the place. But if you are interested in organizing a Community Garden near your home, contact Southside Community Land Trust, which offers workshops and information on gardening in developed urban/suburban areas.
