If you’ve noticed a community garden in your neighborhood and are wondering if it’s worth it to join, consider these 5 benefits of having a community garden plot.

Helps You Develop a Green Thumb

All gardeners start somewhere. If you make a commitment to a community garden plot, you may be more likely to stick with it than if it was in your own yard because you’re accountable to a community. Just make sure it’s not too far away from where you live so it’s convenient to get to. Once you have your plot of land to garden in, you’ll feel inspired to learn more about gardening and continue to develop your skills and techniques. Gardening is a soothing and mindful activity that uplifts your mood and gives you a sense of satisfaction. A community plot might also give you garden access that you otherwise don’t have. 

Connects You with Other Gardeners

Neighborhood gardens have a community aspect which varies depending on the garden. The PSU Learning Gardens Lab, where I had my first plot, was run by students at Portland State University and fostered a friendly and welcoming community. They also had master gardeners there. It was helpful to ask people about various plants, pests and watering techniques. It was also fun just to say hi to people and connect socially while outdoors.

Helps You Develop a Routine

Committing to a garden means committing to watering it, unless you have an irrigation system in place. It also means committing to weeding and harvesting your flowers and veggies to produce more growth. If you’re committed to going to your garden, you’ll build this into your schedule in order to be successful, leading to more structured time that feels rewarding and gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Connects You to Nature

Gardens host all kinds of living beings including plants, flowers, bees, bugs and birds. Their sights and sounds have an instant positive effect on mood. Water is an essential element in a garden and you’ll find that a community garden is charged with a collective energy you can feel. No two people would plant the same garden, so you can enjoy more plants and flowers than you would in your own space. Nature is a wonderful way to mindfully connect to your five senses.

You Can Grow Your Own Veggies and Flowers

It is extremely rewarding when you grow your own food and flowers. Remember to only pick your own flowers but feel free to admire the beauty of other people’s planted goods. If you are a successful gardener, you will find that your self-efficacy, or belief in your ability to garden, increases. If you’re not so successful at it, hopefully you can learn from the process to improve for next time. Self-efficacy paired with the healing qualities of flowers is a recipe for wellness.

Have you ever had a community garden plot? What benefits did you notice?