1. The Pueblo Gardening Project A presentation that answers the question, “Why Garden?”

2. Why start a community garden? 5 REASONS WHY COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE INCREDIBLE! 1.Leadership roles in the garden are important to community development. 2.Community gardens invite everyone to participate in urban agriculture. 3.Garden based educations are a great way to engage the schools in the new gardening project. 4.The health and nutritional benefits of gardening are all positive! 5.Community gardens contribute to economic development and increased food security.

3. Leadership Roles in the garden are important to community development. IT TAKES A NEIGHBORHOOD TO CULTIVATE A GARDEN. Community gardens have the power to bring people together for a common cause. Community gardens have the power to bring people together for a common cause. Establishing a Garden Committee will create an alliance between different members of the community. Establishing a Garden Committee will create an alliance between different members of the community. Leadership roles build confidence in people, which in turn increases community involvement. Leadership roles build confidence in people, which in turn increases community involvement. A community garden creates a great stage for a variety of gatherings throughout the year. A community garden creates a great stage for a variety of gatherings throughout the year.

4. Leadership roles are needed during all of the planning stages of creating a community garden. Engaging all interested parties in this project is a great asset builder for the Pueblo community.

5. Community Gardens invite everyone to participate in urban agriculture. Gardens provide fresh produce that are often hard to find in local markets and groceries. Gardens provide fresh produce that are often hard to find in local markets and groceries. Many different cultures require unique herbs, vegetables, fruits, and spices for their cuisine. Many different cultures require unique herbs, vegetables, fruits, and spices for their cuisine. Gardens offer everyone a chance to experience botanic diversity and provides people with an urban farming opportunity. Gardens offer everyone a chance to experience botanic diversity and provides people with an urban farming opportunity. Community gardens replace run-down parks, abandoned lots, and asphalt lots. These gardens increase the ecological biodiversity in their community. Community gardens replace run-down parks, abandoned lots, and asphalt lots. These gardens increase the ecological biodiversity in their community.

6. The popularity of community gardens that also have operational greenhouses are growing across the nation. The greenhouses provide a year round growing environment for all kinds of vegetation. Hydroponic and Aquaponic growing techniques are exploding all over Colorado!

7. Garden based educations are a great way to engage students of all ages into creating a healthier community. Garden based educations provide an opportunity to work with the schools to fight obesity and other nutritional concerns through a hands on educational experience. Garden based educations provide an opportunity to work with the schools to fight obesity and other nutritional concerns through a hands on educational experience. Garden based educations have proven to increase state scores in both English and Science. Garden based educations have proven to increase state scores in both English and Science. Garden based educations actively engage all kinds of learners and all styles of learning. The kinesthetic approach is popular for students that have been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. Garden based educations actively engage all kinds of learners and all styles of learning. The kinesthetic approach is popular for students that have been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. Garden based educations have proven to decrease student absence rates by increasing children’s overall health. A healthy body has a healthy mind! Garden based educations have proven to decrease student absence rates by increasing children’s overall health. A healthy body has a healthy mind! Students are more likely to try a healthier diet if they personally grow the food. Offering the harvest on a daily basis in the cafeteria may change students eating habits. Students are more likely to try a healthier diet if they personally grow the food. Offering the harvest on a daily basis in the cafeteria may change students eating habits.

8. Many children have never had the opportunity to visit a farm. There are also children who have never picked fresh produce from a garden. A garden based education changes how children view their food, and often encourages a healthier diet.

9. The health and nutritional benefits of gardening are all positive! Gardens provide great exercise, fresh air, routine activities, and the most locally grown produce around! Growing your own food gives you the power to decide how it is grown. You can grow fresh produce without any chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. You can learn about the benefits of organic farming, and apply your knowledge in your own neighborhood. The garden can also be a gathering place for educational workshops that will increase awareness of the reasons why gardens are so important, and how start your own plot.

10. Gardens offer many different forms of artistic individuality to participants. There are a variety of styles to consider when creating a garden. A butterfly and hummingbird attracting garden is full of unique nectar producing plants that keep our ecosystem in balance.

11. The health benefits of a gardening community can include… Health Benefits Gardening burns around 300 calories an hour. Gardening can fight stress and help with happiness and anxiety. Growing your own vegetables is the best way to get your daily nutritional needs.

12. Learning to cook using the harvest of your garden may contribute to weight loss, reduce obesity, and decrease the chances of contracting diabetes.

13. Community gardens contribute to neighborhood development and an increased food security. Gardens bring people in the neighborhood together to revive overgrown lots and create a community of active members. Gardens bring people in the neighborhood together to revive overgrown lots and create a community of active members. Gardens can reduce vandalism and loitering in areas by creating a safe place to send time as a community. Gardens can reduce vandalism and loitering in areas by creating a safe place to send time as a community. Many markets can’t afford to carry a variety of fresh exotic produce throughout the year. Harvesting this produce is an important part of many cultures that exist in Pueblo, Colorado. Many markets can’t afford to carry a variety of fresh exotic produce throughout the year. Harvesting this produce is an important part of many cultures that exist in Pueblo, Colorado. A successful community garden can produce enough fresh produce to supplement local food banks, as well as help to feed many families in the neighborhood. A successful community garden can produce enough fresh produce to supplement local food banks, as well as help to feed many families in the neighborhood. Adding a large greenhouse would provide the garden with year round opportunities to grow food. Adding a large greenhouse would provide the garden with year round opportunities to grow food.

14. Community gardens provide all ethnicities with a way to harvest their traditional culinary needs. It is often hard for small markets and large grocery chains to keep everything stocked in the fresh produce section, especially on a year round basis.

15. Community gardens are blooming in urban communities all over the world. Are you ready to give the people at the Catholic Charities of Pueblo a garden?