There is a lot to be said for the pleasures of gardening. It isn’t just about how much produce you can grow. For many, it is about the process. There is just something very good for the soul in tending to a living thing. When we garden, we nurture our bodies and physical health, but we also nurture our soul. The work of creating a garden, the clearing of the earth to prepare it for our chosen items, is a wonderful thing to share with those you love.

Having your young one help you choose what to plant, dig the ground to prepare it, then water and nurture the garden helps them to understand a portion of all that goes into your family’s meals. The plants you choose build bonds, not only because you are teaching what is good for our bodies, such as the ever-popular tomato, cucumbers and zucchini, but also that the simple beauty of sunflowers, marigolds and petunias, all bring value to your garden.

Pendleton is blessed to have two community gardens starting up again after the pandemic pause. Along with Umatilla County Public Health, the Oregon State University Master Gardeners Program just completed the first half of a two-part program teaching a gardening basics class series that offered solid information and many good tips. The second part will include working in the current community gardens for those who don’t have the space to garden on their own. Anyone who would like to participate in working the Master Gardeners’ Community Gardens can contact Amanda Woodlee at OSU Extension (541-567-6321, ext. 2). The Master Gardeners enjoy sharing the gardens with community members of all ages and welcome youngsters to dig in alongside their adult family members.

UCPH teamed with the OSU Master Gardeners to help implement a portion of the 2022-2026 Community Health Improvement Plan and is coordinating additional day workshops to keep enthusiasm and interest alive during seasonal transitions. Amanda Woodlee reports that a fall workshop is planned, covering which plants are good to plant and grow through the winter, along with tips on how to “shut down” your garden for the winter season.

Community gardens bring people together by promoting activity, which improves overall physical health while also providing social opportunities that build a sense of community and belonging. These gardens give us an opportunity to learn and share knowledge on gardening, nature and cooking, help us understand the origin of our foods, improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and strengthen mental health. All of which help build a better quality of life.

Then there are the subtle ways community gardens contribute to a green infrastructure, something often overlooked in urban climate and development plans, despite their many environmental benefits. They can reduce urban heat islands and increase storm water retention, while decreasing air pollution through filtration of particulates. They also create more habitat for important pollinators such as bees, as well as recycling organic waste through composting. From a mental health perspective, community gardens offer opportunities to “green up” vacant lots, which contributes to reducing crime and anxiety. All while they provide a green space for communities to get together and feel safe in an outdoor environment.

A major study by researchers at multiple universities, found that community gardens and urban farms positively affect biodiversity, local ecosystems, and the well-being of humans that work in them. The study was the first to explore the effects of urban gardens across a wide range of biodiversity, measuring many ecological services.

“Urban farms and gardens currently provide about 15% to 20% of our food supply, so they are essential in addressing food inequality challenges,” notes the study’s lead author, Shalene Jha, of the University of Texas at Austin. “What we’re seeing is that urban gardens present a critical opportunity to both support biodiversity and local food production.”

Our children are our future. Teaching your child the importance of gardening, for themselves and the planet, offers such a broad understanding of life. Audrey Hepburn once said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” What are children if not living embodiments of tomorrow? By sharing the joys of gardening, we are teaching important life lessons on being healthy, wealthy and wise. So, get out there and start digging!