New support for community gardens

By Margaret McCarvill

From the earliest school garden projects to the Great Depression to the victory gardens of World Wars I and II, urban dwellers have long found solace in the soil. But there have been few mechanisms in place to help build, maintain, and protect these spaces.

That's changing in Philadelphia. A confluence of factors is making it easier for gardens to get in the ground - and stay there. The armature of the newly created land bank, combined with the preservation power of the reborn Neighborhood Gardens Trust (NGT), means that community growing spaces have support as never before.

The land bank legislation will facilitate a more streamlined process of conveying vacant land and will be an improvement for many, from developers to civic associations to gardeners. Before, community gardens were seen only as interim uses, but the new law recognizes them as a legitimate long-term land use. While the land bank is still getting established, we should celebrate this milestone and its likely contribution to creating economically and socially diverse communities.

In the meantime, the NGT, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), is pursuing a new mission to acquire and preserve community gardens and shared open spaces.

NGT was born almost 30 years ago as the Neighborhood Gardens Association, but by the late 2000s, it was no longer acquiring and preserving gardens at the rapid pace needed given the city's nascent population growth, especially in neighborhoods where development pressures are rising. So in 2012, NGT and PHS became legally linked, and PHS staff now oversees management and operations of the organization. Today, with a new board and strategic plan, and the support of the land bank, the rechristened NGT protects 34 gardens across the city, and it aims to triple this figure by 2016.

As the land bank takes shape and the partnerships grow among city agencies, community development groups, activists, and others, it is fitting to celebrate the progress here in Philadelphia, the cradle of horticulture, as well as the benefits community gardening brings. On June 21, NGT will sponsor Community Gardens Day. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., local gardeners will welcome visitors to explore and learn about the many benefits of community gardens. With activities ranging from planting to garden tours to kids' games, the participating gardens will be open for everyone.

Community gardening isn't just about growing nutritious food or enjoying pretty flowers, pleasing shrubs, and sheltering trees. It brings people together. It connects neighbors and crosses generations. Digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting are also effective ways to stretch and exercise.

A century ago, Philadelphians knew this well. But for community gardening to really take root, there's no time like the present.