See Community gardens and urban farming reporting for healthy food Communiity programs. Greenhouses can be used instead to provide clean soil and a safer environment for plants to grow. Program staff planted 30 varieties of produce in and developed a plan to plant varieties of produce in Fairview Hospital.

Community gardens and urban farming -

In the urban farm model, you have a fewer number of people spending more time working on about the same area, whereas the community garden has more people working on smaller plots.

Urban farms are generally more business and technology oriented, with the primary purpose of maximizing yields and selling produce. Commercial urban farms are often aimed at expanding production on generally small land area with innovations in technologies such as aquaculture, hydroponics, and greenhouses — and may partner with a commercial kitchen to create locally-produced value-added products such as jams and sauces.

Community gardens on the other hand are generally more socially-driven, focused on the benefits of having green spaces and the educational access that grows from them. The produce is normally grown on a much smaller scale and is taken home to eat at home or to share.

By providing much needed green spaces in destitute, concrete urban areas, they allow for the benefits of backyard gardening to those lacking backyards, and serve as excellent examples of self-organization and community activism. In recent years, however, encouraged by the American Community Gardening Association , community gardens are increasingly seen as partners with urban farms in becoming important elements in a community-based food system.

Some community gardens, often in urban areas, move into growing for commercial use while some urban farms open up their land for more socially conscious benefits. Regardless of how you define and differentiate the two, they are both positive forces for good in cities around America and the world.

Small Axe Peppers has already partnered with over 73 community gardens around the United States. We are steadfast in our belief that these community gardens are bring about positive change — revitalizing formerly decaying urban areas while bringing about access and awareness to locally-sourced food.

So, take part in the revolution by purchasing a bottle here! YouTube Channel Recipes Wholesale Track Order My Account Contact. Urban Farm vs. What is urban farming? What is a community garden? What is the difference between a community garden and urban farm?

Community Farms and Urban Gardens In recent years, however, encouraged by the American Community Gardening Association , community gardens are increasingly seen as partners with urban farms in becoming important elements in a community-based food system. Small Axe Peppers Supports Both Regardless of how you define and differentiate the two, they are both positive forces for good in cities around America and the world.

Program staff planted 30 varieties of produce in and developed a plan to plant varieties of produce in The farm harvested 50, lbs.

of produce in and expects to surpass this in Joseph Mercy Hospital. The Farm at St. The farm holds field trips for local elementary students, hosts interns, donates produce to clinics serving patients with chronic disease and contributes to a collaborative CSA from which low-income community members benefit.

Joseph Hospital established a garden on campus for residents of the assisted senior living, section 8 apartment complex, located across the street.

Surplus vegetables are donated to a local hunger prevention organization Metro Caring that also focuses on providing low-income families with healthy foods.

An additional garden grows produce exclusively for Metro Caring, and another will be planted in the upcoming year. Boston Medical Center. The Boston Medical Center features a 2, square foot Rooftop farm with more than 25 crop varieties. The produce harvested benefits patients and families eating in hospital cafeterias and those referred to the preventive food pantry.

As of October , 4, lbs of produce were provided to the on-site preventative food pantry, cafeterias, and demonstration kitchen. The WIA program offers underserved and marginalized women with job training, support to sell their produce in local markets, and other technical support.

Since April , 14 trainings were conducted and 8 women began growing and selling fresh produce or actively working towards this goal. Provide financial support or staff time for a community garden or farm in the community.

May include providing funding to buy tools, fencing, or other materials to help get a community garden up and running. Lake Region Healthcare staff developed a garden near their walk-in clinic to grow fresh produce and donate the harvest to the local WIC program and community food pantries.

Staff dieticians and nutritionist also work with other community partners to provide hands-on learning opportunities.

of food were donated in , benefiting over 3, individuals. Fairview Hospital. Fairview hospital, a regional winner of the Food Recovery Challenge in , partners with Empire Zero Waste who delivers their food scraps to a local farm for composting.

In Fairview Hospital composted Kaiser Foundation Hospital. KFH awarded a community benefit grant for a nutrition education intervention program located at a community garden and tailored to Latino youth.

In a pilot study found a decrease in body mass index and a decrease in diastolic blood pressure for program participants when compared to a control group.

Memorial Hospital. Memorial hospital provided funding for Unity Gardens for implementation of a Garden to Plate 8-week cooking class and picnic program for vulnerable community members and a healthy eating and physical activity camp for vulnerable youth.

Memorial also assists with evaluation and collecting biophysical indicators. The garden camp introduced 26 new vegetables to 44 campers in The Garden to Plate program attracted 50 people to the picnic in the first week and 70 people in the second week.

There are several factors to consider when establishing a community garden or farm. These elements often include local zoning regulations, soil quality, access to water, financial support, infrastructure, and, in the case of urban or other farms, business and market development.

It is recommended that hospitals partner when possible with organizations that have the knowledge, resources, and capabilities to address some of these topic areas.

Hospitals may seek partnership from local economic development groups, universities, public health departments, environmental health departments, community food and advocacy organizations, and federal and state-sponsored programs and grants. The following resources provide guidance regarding operational factors, financial resources, and technical support.

Local, sustainably grown gardens and farms can mitigate environmental health impacts through practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use fewer chemical inputs, and regenerate unhealthy soils.

There are unique aspects of soil quality, safety, and contamination that community members who are participating in urban gardens and farms must consider.

When establishing a new garden or farm, soil tests should be conducted. Urban soils may also be saturated with contaminants such as lead, petroleum products, and asbestos.

To help urban farmers and gardeners mitigate against these potential risks, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future developed a Soil Safety Resource Guide for Urban Food Growers. Another strategy that many project leaders employ is building raised beds, which both eliminates the risk by introducing new soil with a known chemical composition and allows gardens and farms to be developed on infertile land or pavement.

The federal government sets standards, conducts inspections, and maintains an enforcement procedure to maintain food safety for retail food outlets that distribute fresh produce, but does not provide the same guidance for community gardens and farms.

However, there are many local and state guidelines and resources available for small-scale producers to safely distribute their produce. The following resources provide guidance for safe agricultural practices in the field, handling fruits and vegetables after harvest, and a sample food safety manual.

Composting hospital food waste is an excellent practice, advancing sustainability goals. However, donating hospital food service compost should not be counted in Part I of IRS Form , Schedule H; it can be recorded in other sections of the reporting form.

See Tax reporting for healthy food access programs. Program: Community gardens and farms. Community gardens can be powerful contributors to healthy communities.

They can: Increase access to healthy foods and improve nutrition. Educate community members about food and nutrition Contribute to a more resilient food system. Support social cohesion and build a sense of community. Offer job training and economic opportunity for low-income individuals and families.

Promote safer neighborhoods by repurposing vacant lots and lands into attractive spaces where both people and plants can flourish.

Hospital community benefit can support community garden and farm initiatives in diverse and exciting ways.

Address food insecurity from multiple avenues when they support healthy food access initiatives that also have local economic and workforce development components such as vocational skills and job training and temporary or full-time employment. Dieticians, nutritionists, and hospital-sponsored chefs and gardeners can utilize their expertise to support community health by leading diet and nutrition education.

Hospitals can provide funding, technical support, or staff time for a community garden or farm that is being built in a low-income neighborhood.

A portion of the fresh fruits and vegetables produced by hospital-sponsored gardens may be donated to food pantries or provided to low-income households as subsidized community supported agriculture CSA programs.

They can: Improve access to fresh, healthy, local foods and increase consumption of vegetables and fruits Educate community members about food and nutrition.

Windy City Harvest and Chicago Botanic Garden Chicago, Ill. In , harvested , lbs. of produce Produce was shared by garden participants and distributed to recipients of the local Veggie Rx program. Offers job training opportunities, internships, apprenticeships, and accredited certificate programs Youth development program educates and employs low-income teenagers each year Added Value Farms Brooklyn, N.

In , harvested 20, lbs. of produce at their Red Hook Community Farm location Sells fresh fruits and vegetables to local community members at farmers markets, farms stands, and through their CSA program. Recommendations for hospital participation Health care facilities can support community garden and farm initiatives in diverse and exciting ways.

Additional information about hospital roles and examples are included in the table below.

Official websites Commnuity. gov A. gov website belongs Community gardens and urban farming an official government organization in the United States. gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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Urban gardening - Growing food in New York City Official websites use. gov A. gov website farmingg to an official government organization in the United States. gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.