Communities all over the country are coming together to help combat climate change, address food scarcity and build stronger, safer communities through community gardens. 

Cities like Tacoma, Washington are partnering with local Conservation District community garden programs to support community gardens throughout the community. Tacoma is home to more than 43 community gardens, including 11 on City-owned property. Gardens are managed by Metro Parks, churches, community groups, schools and universities, and many other organizations.

How Gardens Help Communities

There are different types of gardens and benefits to having them in our communities, here are a few:

●      Help communities connect to one another and the outdoors

●      Help with flooding and improvement of water quality

●      Food gardens help address food insecurity in communities

●      They create and sustain urban wildlife habitats

●      They help make our communities more beautiful

Gardens Need Trees, Too!

In addition to partnering with local conservation districts for community gardens, Mayor Victoria Woodards, a member of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), and the Tacoma City Council have adopted the Urban Forest Management Plan committing to add to the health of their community through our TREEmendous neighbors!

The City of Tacoma’s Evirohouse garden
The City of Tacoma’s Evirohouse garden. Credit: US EPA

For more information on the importance of trees and how they serve as some of our best neighbors, read It’s Ok to be Shady: The importance of our TREEmendous Neighbors from National Wildlife Federation Guest blogger, through a partnership with the African American Mayors Association….me!