Articles Reflecting a Vegan Lifestyle used with permission from All-Creatures.org


Elise Ferguson shares her experience raising crops in a local community garden and discusses the myriad benefits of growing your own food.


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The Benefits of Gardening: How Growing Food Supports Health, Community, and Well-Being
From Elise Ferguson, Curriculum Development Manager, Educated Choices Program, ECProgram.org
July 2026

photos of garden, produce, and carrot cake
Photos from Elise Ferguson, ECProgram.org


As we enter July, we become further immersed in peak growing season in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Farmers and gardeners are as busy as the bees that pollinate their crops. This is the perfect moment to take a look at community gardens. There is a lot to learn and a lot to appreciate about them; they grow so much more than food.

Check out our free video presentation and full educational package “Growing Community Roots” to learn more about the important role these gardens play in environmental, personal, and public health!

Some of the potential benefits of community gardens include:

  • Improved nutrition and lower grocery bills
  • Less plastic packaging and chemical residue on food
  • Increased physical activity as well as reduced stress, anxiety, and depression
  • Opportunities for social connection and a sense of collective stewardship
  • Local beautification and increased property values
  • Reduced violence and crime
  • Reduced food waste and food miles, resulting in lower emissions
  • Improved local biodiversity
  • Decreased stormwater runoff
  • Reduced heat island effect

Seeing this list, it may come as no surprise that interest in growing your own food is high, including among young people.

To gain better insight into what it is like to be a young person getting into gardening, we will have a conversation with one of our staff members, Elise Ferguson, who is part of her local community garden.

Why did you start gardening?

Where I live, agriculture is deeply rooted in the culture. Water is generally abundant, soil is fertile, and vegetation is lush. Many crops can flourish here. There are tons of small farms dotting the landscape. Many of these offer CSA (community supported agriculture) shares. I had a share at a local veggie farm when I first moved here, and I loved it. However, I wanted to try my hand at growing some food myself. I have had some experience with farming and gardening in the past, and missed it. I wanted to further integrate myself into my new community, to get outside, and to learn. So I switched from the CSA to a community garden near me.

bok choy sprouting
Photo from Elise Ferguson, ECProgram.org

What surprised you most?

There is no one right way to garden. While I knew this before, I don’t think I fully grasped how many different approaches there are. Walking past other members’ plots, I see such impressive work and creative problem-solving. One thing that is great about gardening in community is that you can get ideas and learn best practices from other gardeners.

One pleasant surprise was the number of young people around my age who have garden plots, and the age diversity of the membership in general. I think I had assumed young people wouldn’t be as interested in being part of the community garden. It is a major commitment of time and effort, and it is hard to manage when you work full-time. This doesn’t seem to have deterred people, though!

Working to grow my own food has also instilled in me an appreciation for how hard it would be to grow ALL my own food. I definitely still make trips to the grocery store in between harvests. It also made me realize how much food we eat is out of season and imported. More professional farms may have infrastructure that allows them to grow a wider range of produce for a longer portion of the year, though. CSAs and farm stands/farmers’ markets are great for this reason.

The most sobering surprises were the environmental challenges, in part posed by climate change. There have been floods that inundate our plots, as well as extreme temperature fluctuations. This spring in my region, there was a 20-degree night in close succession after an 80-degree day. This was highly irregular and damaged many crops throughout the region, especially in orchards. Unpredictable weather means unpredictable yields. Also, the heat can make it harder to work. As a result, I have developed an even deeper appreciation for farmworkers and what they go through to keep society fed.

Climate change is a threat to farming and food. However, our dietary choices also impact our carbon footprint. Switching to more plant-based foods can reduce our emissions.

purple potatoes
Photo from Elise Ferguson, ECProgram.org

Has gardening changed how you eat?

I have centered whole plant foods in my diet for most of my adult life. However, growing some of my own food has made my diet more responsive to whatever is ready for harvest in a given week. I don’t want to waste whatever my garden has produced. One: because food waste is bad for the environment and society. Two: because I worked so hard to grow these veggies! As a result, during the growing season, my diet is more seasonal, more organic, and more local.

Pesticides and other synthetic agricultural inputs can be detrimental to human health and build up over time. It is a relief to know that none of these residues are on my harvests. There might be a few more bug bite holes on my veggies, but I have gotten used to these minor aesthetic imperfections, and I don’t mind sharing my food!

I also am forced to get more creative with my recipes in order to integrate whatever I have on hand. Sometimes harvests include tasty things you would never find in your local grocery stores, like garlic scapes. I also make A LOT of pesto….all kinds of pesto. Have greens you don’t know what to do with? Pop them in a blender with some olive oil. Might as well throw a jalapeño or something in there, too, while you’re at it. Check out my zingy carrot top pesto recipe on ECP’s Choices Hub.

Has gardening impacted your mental health?

I feel that gardening is great for mental health, as well as physical health. It adds multiple trips outside to my weekly routine. There is something deeply therapeutic about breathing fresh air, all the wonderful scents, the vibrant colors, touching soil, and feeling the warm sun on your face (hello vitamin D!). It truly is a feast for the senses, before you even eat anything. And of course, there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment that comes from growing your own food, seeing it mature from seed to full-fledged vegetable. Not to mention, you can really work up a sweat and get your heart rate up!

harvest of carrots, lettuce, and garlic
Photo from Elise Ferguson, ECProgram.org

What advice would you give beginners?

My best tip on gardening for beginners is: Just get your hands in the soil! Don’t get disappointed if things don’t go perfectly the first time. If they do, great! Maybe you have a better green thumb than I! Gardening is partially luck, but also largely skill-based. It takes time to learn your methods and local context. There is always a lot of room to refine your techniques.

I would caution against investing too much money in fancy gadgets and supplies at first. You may find you don’t need them! Joining a community garden, if possible, rather than gardening solo, is often a good way to cut down on costs as well. Sometimes these organizations provide communal resources and shared tools for free. Eventually, you may have to make some monetary investments, depending on your goals, but these will pay off over time. The most valuable investment you can make to maximize your yield is time and effort.

edamame
Photo from Elise Ferguson, ECProgram.org

What role does community play in your garden?

My community garden is a non-profit run by a board of volunteers. The cost of membership is fairly low, so it is relatively accessible. There are also shared tools, a compost pile we can use, etc. This community investment makes the individual task of managing your own plot much easier.

Being a member comes with the obligation of participating in a few community workdays each year, as well as joining one of the garden committees run by the board. This builds a sense of collective stewardship, keeps the garden operational, and nourishes a strong, connected community.

While my plot is my own to manage, I have gotten to know some of my neighbors' familiar faces. People are friendly and say “hi” as they pass. Many are happy to offer advice and talk about their gardening techniques. People will also often share surplus seeds, produce, etc.

basil, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeños
Photo from Elise Ferguson, ECProgram.org

What has been the most rewarding part?

There are many benefits of gardening in this context. Working on my plot with my partner has been a wonderful opportunity to have a joint project and get some quality time outside together. Being in a community-driven space is also a great way to feel more connected to the local community and culture, as someone who recently moved here.

It is rewarding to feel like I am stewarding the land. The garden uses organic practices and is a hub not only for people but also for local wildlife, especially pollinators! I have learned so much in the brief time I have been a member. It is a fun project with intellectual, creative, and physical components.

I also get joy from sharing the food I grow. My hot sauces have been a great hit with my extended family. It is hard to describe the joy of eating the fruits of your own labor. If you have the opportunity and want to learn how to grow your own food, I would highly recommend trying it out!


To learn more about some of the topics discussed in this blog post, check out our other free education packages. For an exploration of the environmental impacts of industrial farming, watch “The Environment and Modern Agriculture” and “Planetary Health.” For a deep dive into food waste, watch “Rethinking Food Waste.”

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Posted on All-Creatures: July 8, 2026
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