Community Gardening

July Elliott of Denver Urban Gardens oversees education for Denver's 70 community gardens. Her favorite project is composting. At Ashgrove Community Garden, Amanullah Mommandi and his father Mohammed brought seeds and traditional methods of growing vegetables from their native Afghanistan. Mohammed, who doesn't speak English, spends every day at the garden because of the camaraderie and neighborly spirit he shares with other gardeners, without exchanging a word. The Peace Garden exemplifies diversity among the gardens. The garden is dedicated to the memory of 16-year-old Troy Chavez, who was killed by a gang member. In a community riddled by the torment of gang violence, the garden has become a safe haven, a source of pride for the neighborhood and a way to heal. Ana Chavez comments: "What better way to heal a community than to work with the earth. The earth is healing."

Community gardens can be found all across the country and are as unique as the people who tend them. They offer food, flowers, friendship and even forgiveness. Judy Elliott of Denver Urban Gardens explains: "We don't only grow seeds. We don't only grow plants. We use the analogy of healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy people to plant the seeds of possibility for bringing whole communities together." Denver has more than 70 community gardens and 20,000 citizens who have found a green oasis amidst the concrete city.

"Community gardens are great for all kinds of reasons," master gardener Paul James adds. "One of the most important is that community gardens all around the country produce food for the homeless, and that makes community gardens very special indeed."