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From our friends at Healthy Monday…

Having access to nutritious, whole foods is something many of us take for granted. We can begin each week with a trip to the grocery store or farmers’ market where we’ll find a wide variety of fruits, grains, vegetables, beans and other healthy fare. Finding fresh, affordable produce in urban neighborhoods, however, can be a challenge. Supermarkets aren’t always accessible.

In the face of economic hardship and lack of resources many city dwellers have decided to take their nutrition into their own hands. More and more people are growing their own produce in whatever space they can find, enlisting the help of their neighbors to get the job done. Urban gardens are sprouting worldwide, creating affordable options and stronger communities wherever they’re found.

It can be difficult to start a successful garden. Busy work schedules can turn prepping and planting into a daunting chore. Permablitz, an Australian based community project, attempts to alleviate this issue by gathering people together to quickly create gardens in urban and suburban spaces. Permablitz participants gain horticultural experience, form friendships in their community and earn the opportunity to have their own yards turned into a more fruitful space.

GROFUN, a UK based organization with similar goals, proves that you don’t need a lot of land to start your own garden. GROFUN (Growing Real Organic Food in Urban Neighborhoods) brings people together to plant gardens wherever they’re wanted, including rooftops and balconies. Those who contribute to the garden’s creation and maintenance reap the literal fruits of their labor. Harvest is a social event (complete with potluck) and everyone shares the produce gathered.

Urban gardens are gaining popularity in the United States as well. The town of Mechanicsville, Georgia is home to HABESHA gardens, a community plot that offers afterschool programs to African-American youth and donates surplus produce to local food banks. HABESHA strives to teach through experience, and encourages all community members to participate in the garden’s cultivation once a week. Everything HABESHA does benefits the community, from the planting and maintaining of their gardens to the nutrition that the final product provides.

Working with others to create a group garden can make the process easier to manage, educational and a lot more fun. HyperLocavore, a yard sharing program based in the United States, offers a social network where you can meet others to collaborate with. Getting together for a few hours of gardening over the weekend ensures new friendships, time spent outdoors and healthy produce for the start of the week. Remember, you can find plenty of recipes to compliment your fresh home grown fruits and vegetables by visiting Meatless Monday.