Spokane, Wash—Laughter split through the air as young children ran wild, adults spoke of the good old days, and college students took much needed study breaks to stand together around an old-fashion cider press.

In the small college town of Newberg, Oregon, an organic community garden sprung up several years ago. Today, more than forty volunteers participate in each year’s exciting gardening endeavors, according to Katricia Hemming, a volunteer at the Newberg Community Organic Garden. Every year, they plant the garden organically (without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides), care for the crops through the season, harvest in the fall, and host a harvest party for all of the volunteers, which includes a potluck comprised of organic, garden-fresh foods.

At this annual harvest event, chunks of apples fly and juice funnels into recycled bottles, as the happy gardeners rest and enjoy fresh-pressed cider, made from their organic fruit. This is just a typical event in Newberg, Oregon. But across the nation, organic community gardening is widespread, and ever-increasing. Everywhere from the White House, to New York City apartment flats, to Beverly Hills plots, to small town gardens like Newberg’s, community gardening is up and coming, made especially popular by First Lady, Michelle Obama.

But where is Spokane on the community gardening map? A recent article in Down to Earth Northwest featured the Growing Hope Garden in North Spokane which uses an “On the Job Training” program to provide an educational element for women in transitional programs, while sustainably producing food in the garden. This phenomenal program enables people in the community in incredible ways. Yet unfortunately, this is the only community garden currently in the Spokane area.

Why is it that cities like Los Angeles (that have very little space for people, let alone land), are on the forefront of community gardening; while, Spokane, a mildly-urban area, surrounded by fertile soils and farmland, has only one community garden? The trend simply has yet to catch on in the Spokane region.

What are the benefits of community gardening? Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it builds stronger communities. When individuals come together to work toward something greater, it empowers them to take pride in their hard work. In addition, there are many community gardens providing more than just food … they are providing education. Michelle Obama’s project on the south lawn of the White House is being used to educate fifth graders on the importance of gardening and healthy eating; and it is actually enabling them to learn the practices of cultivating edible product.

Other community gardens take pride in philanthropic benefits. Tons of produce every year are donated to food banks from local gardens, providing the impoverished with sustainable food. Sometimes, the individuals and families benefitting from food banks are the volunteers at the community gardens, a sustainable answer to fighting hunger in some cities.

And indeed, community gardens are an eco-friendly alternative to summer-time produce purchases. It reduces the overall carbon footprint to grow produce locally, rather than having it flown or driven into your city. It is also better for the environment when we purchase produce that is cultivated organically, rather than non-organic options that use harsh chemicals and toxic pesticides. Not to mention, it is better for your health not to consume chemically-treated food products.

It is also easier on the pocketbook. Organic community gardening can reduce your grocery bill immensely during the summer months. Another community garden volunteer from a University garden cited spending $10 on a community garden membership, and purchasing next to no produce during the months of August, September, and October, while having all of the apples, pears, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, herbs, hot peppers, zucchini, summer squash, acorn squash, and delicata squash that she could possibly consume during the season. Could you imagine a $10 quarterly produce bill?

With the innumerable benefits of community gardening, it is a wonder that Spokane has not caught on to this trend. Perhaps, we need to call up our friends, business contacts, apartment complexes, schools, non-profit organizations, churches, and youth development programs and get to work!

Check out www.communitygarden.org for tips on starting a community garden in your area.

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