Nourishing and Natural - Community Gardens!

Farmers Markets, Locally Grown and More…

‘Karen and Jay celebrate the exciting growth of local agriculture and positive developments in our communities’

There’s a major phenomenon gathering steam. Locally grown! And you can see it happening all around you. What’s old is new again.

For centuries, we as humans have been closely linked to the land around us and what it can produce. The local food supply has been a vital part of our community life as well as our source of health and nutrition – and for many of us even planting our own. In fact, I can remember years ago as a kid - planting the garden down behind our house each year along with my brother and our parents. We would plant peas, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, potatoes – and of course, corn. My brother and I even tried watermelon one year – not so successful given our growing season in Newport – but we felt good giving it a shot.

However, with the advent of mass production, large corporate food producers – along with preservatives, additives and more – over the past seventy years or so – as a nation, we have, in large part, lost our longstanding connection to local agriculture.

But now, the great news is – local farming roaring back with gusto – and bringing along all the attendant benefits. Higher nutritional content in what we eat, community gardens that foster social interaction and local pride, as well as perhaps most important, a sense of independence.

From neighborhood plots bursting with tomatoes and sunflowers to bustling farmers markets in the heart of town, the movement is as colorful as it is inspiring. These spaces aren’t just places to buy vegetables; they’re meeting grounds where neighbors catch up, ideas are exchanged, and knowledge about growing, cooking, and preserving food is passed along like a cherished heirloom. You’ll often find local musicians adding a joyful soundtrack, children chasing each other between the stalls, and handshakes sealing not only sales but friendships.

Community gardens, in particular, are transforming vacant lots and idle spaces into vibrant hubs of life. They’re teaching young people where food really comes from — and how rewarding it feels to nurture something from seed to harvest. Elder gardeners bring a lifetime of wisdom, newcomers bring fresh energy and ideas, and together they create something beautiful, productive, and shared. These gardens become symbols of what’s possible when people work side by side toward a common goal.

The benefits ripple outward. Local growers support the local economy, keeping dollars circulating close to home. Fresh produce means fewer miles traveled from farm to table, reducing our environmental footprint. And because the food is picked at peak ripeness, it’s packed with flavor and nutrition that far outshine mass-produced alternatives. It’s good for our bodies, our environment, and our community spirit.

Most of all, this return to local food is feeding something deeper than hunger — it’s feeding hope. In a world that sometimes feels fast-paced and disconnected, a simple ear of corn or a fresh-picked strawberry can remind us of where we come from and the value of slowing down. In the smiles exchanged over a basket of peaches or the dirt under our fingernails after a morning in the garden, we rediscover the joy of being rooted — in place, in purpose, and in each other.

Let’s savor the season, celebrate every local harvest, and nurture the bonds that make our communities shine bright—one garden, one neighbor, one sun-ripened tomato at a time.

How Small Towns Are Transforming Vacant Lots into Lush, Communal Gardens

Across small towns in New England, a quiet revolution is taking place. Once-empty lots, forgotten schoolyards, and crumbling parking areas are being turned into vibrant community gardens. These patches of green are more than just places to grow vegetables—they're spaces for people to grow together. In towns like Claremont, NH and Barre, VT, neighbors, local leaders, and nonprofits are banding together to reimagine what a shared space can be.

The process often starts with a simple question: What can we do with this unused land? With support from municipal programs and grassroots grants, towns are finding creative ways to bring beauty and productivity back to underutilized places. Raised beds are being installed, compost bins built, and fencing added—much of it through volunteer labor. It’s a labor of love that pays dividends far beyond the harvest.

These gardens are feeding families with fresh, local produce, but they’re also feeding civic pride. Many gardens include areas for teaching kids how to plant, sharing seeds with neighbors, and gathering for seasonal work days or potlucks. The result is a deeper connection to both place and people. What was once a blight becomes a beacon.

Perhaps most importantly, community gardens often serve as a spark for broader revitalization. A block with a blooming garden can inspire nearby homeowners to spruce up their properties. Local businesses take notice and sometimes even chip in. Residents feel safer walking through once-neglected areas. This kind of transformation is contagious—and it’s all rooted in the simple act of planting together.

As one town council member in Franklin, NH put it: "When you give people something to take care of, they rise to the occasion. And when it’s a garden, everyone benefits." Community gardens are not only growing food—they’re growing stronger, more hopeful towns.

How Gardening Is Improving Mental Health and Fostering Friendships

There’s something restorative about digging in the dirt. Studies have shown that gardening reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), improves mood, and fosters a sense of purpose. But beyond the science, there’s a lived truth known by millions of Americans: gardening simply makes life feel better.

In small towns and suburban neighborhoods alike, communal garden spaces are helping people reconnect—to themselves and to others. Whether it’s seniors tending raised beds at a retirement center or children learning to grow herbs after school, these green spaces offer more than just physical nourishment. They offer mental clarity and emotional resilience.

Take the story of Lorraine in Keene, NH. After her husband passed, she fell into a deep depression—until a friend invited her to help plant in a local garden. That one invitation bloomed into a daily ritual, then a group of friends, then a reason to smile again. “I found my community through tomatoes,” she laughs. Her story isn’t rare. Garden beds have become gathering places, healing places.

Therapeutic gardening programs are popping up in veterans’ centers, libraries, and even rehab facilities. These initiatives often pair gardening with guided reflection, physical therapy, or group sharing. The simple, repetitive act of watering, pruning, and harvesting provides structure and grounding. And doing it with others creates connection.

In a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, gardening reconnects us to the rhythms of life—and to one another. As the old saying goes, “You can’t plant a seed and not grow a little yourself.”

Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA): Families Eating Local, Farmers Thriving

If you’ve ever gotten a box of fresh produce directly from a farm, you’ve likely experienced the beauty of Community-Supported Agriculture, or CSA. This model brings local farms and local families together in a powerful partnership—and it’s making a big difference across New England.

The basic idea is simple: members pay a seasonal fee upfront and receive weekly deliveries of just-picked fruits, vegetables, herbs, and sometimes eggs or flowers. For farmers, that early payment provides crucial financial stability. For families, it’s a chance to eat healthier, support nearby growers, and reduce dependence on supply chains that stretch halfway around the world.

Small farms like Hermit Woods Farm in Sanbornton, NH have found new life through CSAs. Owner Greg Wallace explains, “It used to be a struggle to guess demand each season. Now, with CSA members, we have a built-in community that we grow with.”

Beyond the produce itself, CSAs often come with recipe cards, newsletters, and the chance to visit the farm in person. Children learn where their food comes from. Families try new vegetables they may have never picked up at a grocery store. And a sense of shared investment grows.

In many rural areas, CSA pickup locations have become community events in their own right—part farmers' market, part neighborly gathering. They’re places where people connect over beets and basil, and where local food builds local bonds.

Garden-Based Events and Pop-Up Farmers' Markets

What started as rows of kale and sunflowers are now turning into community hotspots. Across the country, towns are hosting seasonal events right inside their gardens—pop-up markets, garden-to-table dinners, even bluegrass nights under the stars. These events are proving that when a town gathers in the garden, good things grow.

Take Warner, NH, where every Saturday during the summer, a local garden hosts a "Makers & Growers Market." Visitors can pick up handmade soap, grab a pint of raspberries, or enjoy local live music. The event began as a one-time harvest celebration and has grown into a centerpiece of the town’s summer culture.

These gatherings are more than just fun—they're local economic engines. They give artisans, bakers, and farmers an affordable venue to showcase their goods. They draw foot traffic that spills over into nearby businesses. And they offer something priceless: a reason to linger, to talk, to enjoy where you live.

In an age where many towns are seeking ways to revitalize their Main Streets, garden-based events offer a grassroots solution. You don’t need a fancy venue or a big budget—just an open space, a handful of volunteers, and a little creativity.

From salsa nights to seed swaps, these events are bringing color, commerce, and connection back to America’s small towns. And it all starts with soil and a shared sense of purpose.

Positive Profile: Julie Mangan – Leading with Soil and Soul

In the heart of Malden, Massachusetts, Julie Mangan has cultivated more than just a garden, she’s cultivated a movement. As the longtime coordinator of the Malden Community Garden, Julie has transformed a once-ignored city lot into a thriving, multicultural gathering place that feeds bodies, friendships, and civic pride.

Julie’s leadership is rooted in inclusion. From day one, she made sure that the garden reflected the diversity of the surrounding neighborhood. With plots tended by residents from all walks of life—immigrants, seniors, students, and families—the Malden garden has become a living mosaic of cultures and flavors.

But Julie’s work goes far beyond plot assignments. She hosts seasonal potlucks, organizes garden tours, and mentors new gardeners with an encouraging spirit and a pair of dirt-covered gloves. Under her guidance, the garden became a certified urban agriculture site and a pilot program for regional sustainability grants.

When the pandemic struck, Julie led efforts to increase production for food-insecure residents, turning extra plots into donation beds and launching a “Grow & Give” campaign. She also partnered with local schools to offer virtual gardening classes for kids stuck at home.

Thanks to her dedication, the Malden Community Garden is now a blueprint for other towns looking to turn soil into strength. Julie has been featured by the Massachusetts Urban Agriculture Coalition and continues to mentor new community garden leaders throughout New England.

Quote of the Week: Celebrating Local Gardening

“Strong communities are built around local, real food. Food we trust to nourish our bodies, the farmer and planet.”

— Joel Salatin