"Eat Smart Move More North Carolina:
Growing Communities through Gardens"
A planning and resource guide for anyone who is thinking about starting a
community garden.
The guide describes a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing,
preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.
Whether your "community" setting (work site, faith community, school, etc.) is considering starting a community garden
or you are thinking about joining a garden near you, the primer walks you through the options, steps and resources to
ensure success.
A new resource guide aims to improve health and communities, one garden at a
time
Just in time for National Community Gardening Week (August 23-29), North Carolinians have access to a new community
gardening primer from the N. C. Community Garden Partners and the Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina movement.
Community Gardening Week was recently proclaimed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and leads into National Fruits & Veggies
— More Matters® month in September.
The theme for the September 2009 celebration is “How to Stretch your Fruit and Vegetable Budget.” A garden provides
both access to fresh produce and a way to stretch your food dollars. Not only are community gardens a good way to get
more fruits and vegetables into our diets, they also allow us to explore nutrition “from garden to fork,” be active
outdoors and build strong, healthy communities.
“Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina: Growing Communities through Gardens” is a planning and resource guide for anyone
who is thinking about starting a community garden. The guide describes what a community garden is; the benefits; how to
find or start a garden; and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. It also highlights
state and national gardening resources. Whether your “community” setting — work site, faith community, school,
neighborhood — is considering starting a community garden or you are thinking about joining a garden near you, the
primer walks you through the options, steps and resources to ensure success.
North Carolina Community Garden Partners (NCCGP) is a coalition of community-based and faith-based organizations,
universities, public health agencies, and others interested in gardening. The mission of the NCCGP is to increase the
number of successful and sustainable community gardens in North Carolina by creating a strategic plan and statewide
organization for community gardens. Leadership for the initiative is provided by the N. C. Division of Public Health
and N. C. Cooperative Extension, through N. C. A & T University and N. C. State University.
The N. C. Fruits & Veggies Nutrition Coalition is one of the NCCGP partner organizations and a sponsor for the community
garden primer. “Growing Communities through Gardens” reflects the coalition’s mission — building a healthier North
Carolina by increasing access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables. The N. C. Fruits & Veggies Nutrition
Coalition began in 1996 and has more than 423 members representing 80 of North Carolina’s 100 counties and the Cherokee
Indian Reservation. Coalition members across the state conduct local activities, including programs and promotions in
supermarkets, schools, restaurants, cafeterias, work sites, health agencies and community groups. The N. C. Fruits &
Veggies Nutrition Program is part of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch, N. C. Division of Public Health. To
access fruit and vegetable resources or learn more about Coalition activities and membership, visit
www.FruitsAndVeggiesNC.com.
[permaculture] "Eat Smart Move More North Carolina: Growing Communities through Gardens",
Lawrence F. London, Jr., 08/24/2009