A Garden That Gives Back

There is no doubt that the city is full of hustle and bustle with cars‚ noise‚ and seemingly never-ending people․ And here is a garden; that not only survives‚ but also actually seems to thrive here‚ well-placed as it is between all the concrete and buildings of the city‚ to the benefit of both people and nature․ Where the scent of flowers is carried by the wind‚ the song of birds is in the air‚ and the green of the garden contrasts with the gray of the city‚ it is a garden that brings not only beauty to the city but many other benefits that impact the lives of people as well․ This garden is a metaphor for our collective need for healing‚ sustainability‚ and connection with nature․

Nature's rejuvenating impact should not be underestimated․ Time spent outdoors is associated with lower stress and higher cognitive functioning․ Such gardens have a function of recreation and rest․ Walking in gardens that are full of flowers and plants by the ways makes people relaxed and often happy․ It is a refuge from the stresses of everyday life‚ a place to catch one's breath․ To smell the flowers and hear them rustle when the wind blows through them․ To get a little sunshine on their back․ Each petal and each leaf calms the mind and reminds us that we can be healed‚ if we just spend some time in nature․

Use Organic Gardening Methods by Composting

On a larger scale‚ urban gardens can communicate a commitment to sustainable living in an age of increasing concern for the effects of living on the planet․ The park is an example of how it is possible to come together and make effective choices․ Using organic gardening methods by composting and natural pest control‚ the park has served as an example of sustainable horticulture and shown how to live in concert with the earth‚ which community members then emulate in their own lives by treating and growing the earth while learning the process in the park's community garden‚ where vegetables‚ herbs‚ and flowers are grown and help spread this education beyond the park and around the city․

To a great extent‚ the garden is an ecosystem of plants and insects as well as other animals․ It is a tiny and self-contained community of flora and fauna within the city‚ not to mention a refuge for the numerous creatures such as bees‚ butterflies and birds which need the sanctuary of plants for shelter and food․ As pollinators of most of these plants‚ they play a key role in sustaining the world of flora and fauna․ In providing wildlife with food and shelter‚ the garden is an example of how a small patch of green can help increase biodiversity and the environment within an urban setting․

Benefits of Gardening

Gardening is a therapeutic process with a seemingly unending array of benefits․ The process of growing a garden teaches patience‚ practicing mindfulness‚ as well as responsibility․ Through a montage‚ they keep digging their hands in the soil‚ and they earnestly plant seeds in the garden․ The plants grow in the garden‚ while the gardeners watch them with satisfaction‚ becoming more connected to the life around them․ The rhythmic nature of sowing‚ watering‚ and harvesting crops can allow for a flow state that acts as a meditative distraction from stress․ For others‚ the more peaceful aspects like digging in the ground and seeing what life is in the soil is of spiritual value and a source of inspiration․

In addition‚ the garden leads to better food security for the neighborhood․ Access to fruits and vegetables can be limited in urban neighborhoods‚ so by growing its own food‚ a community can reduce its dependence on store-bought foods‚ and take control of the inputs that are contained in the food․ The riot of red tomatoes and yellow squash‚ green peppers and other vegetation in the garden gives the body the vitamins and nutrients it needs․ Everyone joins in the harvest and the festivals and shares their recipes․ It's not just an increase to the neighborhood spirit-wise․ It's an increase to the idea of eating healthy and good nutrition․ Too many people have easy access to fast food that the garden is a much-needed alternative and a self-sustained nutritional option․

The garden that gives back is a vision of hope and regeneration‚ of how important the natural world is to our existence‚ how healing and powerful green spaces can be‚ how we can live in the city in a sustainable and harmonious way․ It is a space in which every seed planted‚ weed pulled out‚ is put to the earth to nourish the community it serves‚ to heal the planet and give shelter to its many species inhabitants․ It's the perfect safe space for its caretakers' mental and physical wellbeing․ The garden nourishes the body‚ the heart‚ and the soul and is a catalyst for hope and resilience‚ and ultimately acts as a reminder that taking care of the land and giving back is really giving back to ourselves․