Toledo GROWS Community Garden Tour and Volunteering

Join members of the Junior League of Toledo as we learn about the revitalizing work that Toledo GROWS is doing for our community. After a tour of the gardens, we will be getting our hands dirty and volunteering to help with their current gardening project needs. What's so special about a Community Garden? Community gardens enhance the quality of life in many ways: -transform neglected spaces into safe, beautiful gardens where neighborhood engagement brings people of all ages and backgrounds together -connect urban dwellers back to the land and nature -provide wholesome, nutritious, and economical food reduce crime and blight -promote the creation and use of green space -create positive community development Community gardens are safe, beautiful outdoor spaces on public or private lands, where neighbors meet to grow and care for vegetables, flowers and native plant species. The gardeners take initiative and responsibility for organizing, maintaining and managing the garden area. This participation builds skills and creates positive community development that is widely accessible to a diverse range of people. Partnerships between Toledo GROWs, the Metroparks of the Toledo Area, the City of Toledo, and community organizations have created additional community benefits, through fostering youth employment, volunteer activity, and the restoration of natural areas. Community gardens have been shown to revitalize areas from neglected spaces characterized by vandalism and illegal activities into places for community programs and celebration. This transformation takes place when community gardens engage sustained community involvement by youth, families, seniors, intergenerational, ethnic and multicultural groups. There are measurable outcomes that document the success of this collaborative effort. At a number of community gardens, for example, litter, vandalism, documented crime, graffiti and negative park use have declined considerably. Community gardens increase neighborhood engagement.