“The country is the world of the soul, the city is the world of bodies.”
Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, p. 36
by Christine Muller
Gardening is a profoundly meaningful activity for many reasons. However, not everyone has a yard or a balcony, and some don’t have the time or physical strength for the season-long commitment of a garden. Community gardens are a great way to grow food, even in a city! Community gardens can bring people of different ages and backgrounds together. With observing proper distancing, working in a garden can also provide a safe opportunity for direct social interaction and collaboration during a pandemic. The fresh herbs and vegetables can contribute to food security and human health and can make communities more resilient to economic hardship and supply-interruptions.
Gardening encourages good neighborhood relations, provides exercise, is educational for the children, and fun for everyone involved. It benefits the environment because you can avoid the application of harmful agricultural chemicals, and your plants provide much needed food for pollinators. Green Acre Baha’i School used to have a large and successful community garden several decades ago. All the food scraps at the school were composted and then used in the garden. Imagine the potential of this happening again – and in many places!
For more information about Community Gardening:
https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/community-gardening
https://www.communitygarden.org/about
For general information about gardening:
https://www.almanac.com/vegetable-gardening-for-beginners
