{"id":57,"date":"2015-11-23T14:39:36","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T14:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/?p=57"},"modified":"2020-03-20T02:49:12","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T02:49:12","slug":"community-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/2015\/11\/23\/community-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"Dig Right In!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Photo by: Julie Florek<\/p><\/div>\n

What do you think of when you hear of a community garden? Well to answer my own question a community garden is land gardened and taken care of by a group of people. The land is either individual or shared plots on private or public land. They encourage communities to use the garden as food security for the people in the are or to donate the food to those in need. Community gardens area great place for member of a community to get together and enjoy each other\u2019s company and the thing that they have created. You can find these gardens almost anywhere, in the city, local schools, people\u2019s backyards and much more.<\/p>\n

\"ScreenRight here in Lancaster County Pennsylvania we have many community gardens that people can go to, volunteer for or just visit. In our own back yard we have Lighten Up Lancaster County, Wheatland Community Garden, Lancaster Community Garden and Dig It.<\/p>\n

Start Diggin<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo by: Julie Florek<\/p><\/div>\n

Dig It is one of the more popular and well-known community gardens in Lancaster. It is on 618 Stevens Ave Lancaster PA. They have open volunteering every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10AM \u2013 2PM.<\/p>\n

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Photo by: Julie Florek<\/p><\/div>\n

Other then just their open volunteering they have other events. Dig It holds an Urban Farm and Garden Summer Camp. The goal of their camp is to improve the health and welfare of children.The camp teaches kids about food and what is best for their bodies and minds. They grow their own nutrient rich organic food; they learn about, taste and sell their food.<\/p>\n

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Photo by: Julie Florek<\/p><\/div>\n

Dig It also give people the opportunity to adopt a garden. Groups can adopt a small flower, herb or butterfly plot at Dig It. Your group can take care of that plot from May to October. If you decided to adopt you have to visit your plot 2 \u2013 4 per month to maintain the plot (weed, water and mulch).<\/p>\n

They also give the opportunity for community service. If you contact Dig It you can tell them when you are available to come in and set up a regularly scheduled volunteer time. For volunteering you must have a group of 8 or more people. To schedule volunteering or if you have questions about any of Dig Its events you can contact Director Saheeb Sabur               at 717-473-371.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Dig_It_720p.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

                                                                                                                                              Coming Spring 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Millersville University Community Garden; Photo by: Julie Florek<\/p><\/div>\n

Right now The School District of Lancaster is in the process of creating a new school garden; they are working with Millersville University to get the project up and running. We spoke with Professor Nadine Garner of Millersville University who is heading this project. Professor Garner is an Associate Professor of Psychology, the Director of the Center for Sustainability and the Chair of the Sustainability Committee. Professor Garner is also the head of this new project.<\/p>\n

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Millersville University Community Garden; Photo by: Julie Florek<\/p><\/div>\n

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Photo by: The Center for Sustainability – Millersville University<\/p><\/div>\n

This project started as an indoor community garden at the Wheatland Middle School. It was a small space where kids could come to garden during the winter and summer months. This project got so popular that they needed a larger space. Professor Garner and the Center for sustainability at Millersville University and the school district were able to come up with the funds to get a half an acre of land near the Middle School. Their half-acre is completely fenced in and will be open year round. They will be officially opening the new community garden spring of 2016. This garden is going to be used as a teaching tool to show kids how to grow their own food and eat properly. The food that they grow will get to go home with the kids and rest will be donated to local food banks. Professor Garner wanted to start these community gardens as a project to create food security for the kids of Lancaster.<\/p>\n

Since this is all volunteer work, Professor Gardner is always looking for help. If you or someone you know would like to get involved, please send her an email at Nadine.Gardner@millersville.edu<\/a>. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Julie-Lecture1.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

 <\/strong>                                                                                                                                          Community is Important<\/strong><\/p>\n

Community gardens are very beneficial to communities that have them and use them properly.<\/p>\n