Be a Rebel: Start a Garden

Harness the Power of Your HOA to Create Resilient, Healthy, & Happy Communities

In recent years, the push for sustainability has transformed how we view our neighbourhoods. One initiative that’s gaining momentum is the idea of replacing lawns with community gardens. While many Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) are often seen as enforcing strict landscaping rules that favour grass lawns, this could be an opportunity for positive change. Instead of banning community gardens, why not embrace them? Growing food at home can foster a sense of community, improve food security, and offer ecological benefits; meanwhile, lawns result in environmental harms, like biodiveristy loss, harmful runoff from pesticides and fertilizers, and more.

As the movement Food Not Lawns states, “We are an international network of gardeners and activists, sharing food, seeds, tools, land, skills, and other resources with each other in neighbourhood-based, friendship-driven communities.” This principle is one HOAs could adopt to turn neighbourhoods into thriving, resilient communities. HOAs can partner with groups like Food Not Lawns to help people harmonize their homes with our ecosystem. 

The Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

Community gardens bring a host of advantages that go beyond beautifying a neighbourhood. Here are just a few of the compelling reasons to consider:

1. Reduced Carbon Footprint By growing food locally, you reduce the need for long-distance transportation via trucks, planes, or trains. This not only cuts down on emissions but also reduces the energy and resources involved in packaging and storing produce for supermarkets.

2. Increased Food Security Recent global events like the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and the impact of climate change have highlighted the fragility of food systems. Having access to local, fresh produce provides a safety net in times of crisis, whether it be war, natural disasters, or economic downturns. 

3. Supporting Pollinators and Biodiversity Lawns, while neat and green, often serve as biological deserts. In contrast, gardens brimming with fruits, vegetables, and flowers support local pollinators like bees and butterflies. Diverse gardens contribute to the overall biodiversity of an area, helping to sustain the ecosystem.

4. Elimination of Harmful Chemicals Maintaining a lawn often requires pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, which can contaminate local water supplies and harm wildlife. Gardens, on the other hand, can be grown using permaculture methods, eliminating these harmful inputs and promoting a healthier environment for all.

5. Mental Health Benefits Numerous studies have shown that gardening can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The act of working with soil, plants, and nature can be therapeutic. A community garden offers opportunities for social interaction and collaboration, which enhances mental well-being and creates a sense of belonging. 

6. Educational Opportunities for Children A garden provides a living classroom where kids can learn about science, nutrition, and ecology. Gardening fosters outdoor play, curiosity, and a connection to Nature. Children can engage in hands-on learning about cooking, healthy eating, and sustainable practices.

7. Improved Nutrition Fresh, homegrown produce often has higher nutritional value than store-bought food that’s been transported long distances. For marginalized communities with limited access to fresh food, local gardens can help fill the gap by providing easy access to nutritious, affordable options.

A Historical Precedent: The Victory Gardens of WWII

If you think this is a new idea, think again. During World War II, the United States faced potential food shortages. In response, people turned to Victory Gardens to supplement the food supply and support the war effort. According to the National World War II Museum, by 1944, these gardens produced 40% of the country’s vegetables.

Even apartment dwellers got involved, growing food in window boxes or on rooftops. Schools also planted gardens, ensuring children had quality food of nutritional value. Victory Gardens also diversified the American diet with new easy-to-grow vegetables. This movement not only helped prevent food shortages but also fostered a sense of unity and purpose.

Nothing is more patriotic than growing your own food and collaborating with your neighbours to help save the world. 

Addressing Common Concerns

Despite the many benefits, community gardens often face opposition. Detractors argue that they attract pests, look messy, or reduce property values. These concerns, while understandable, are often based on misconceptions.

For example, with proper management, gardens don’t have to become overgrown or attract vermin. Many communities have set up committees to oversee their gardens, ensuring that produce is harvested on time and that the plots are well-maintained. Excess produce can even be donated to local food banks, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

As Ari Bargil, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, points out, restrictions on gardens can sometimes reflect classist attitudes. “These are classist restrictions that are designed to make neighbourhoods look a certain way.” Raised beds, greenhouses, and vegetable patches can look aesthetically pleasing when thoughtfully integrated into the landscape, and they offer far more benefits than a simple stretch of grass.

Right-to-Garden Laws

In response to these discriminatory restrictions, two states (Illinois and Maine) have passed right-to-garden laws that prevent HOAs and municipalities from banning gardens outright. These laws protect homeowners who want to cultivate their land and grow their food. For those facing resistance from an HOA, starting a right-to-garden campaign could be a powerful step forward.

Harnessing the Power of Your HOA

Rather than seeing your HOA as a roadblock, consider using it as a vehicle for change. Many communities with ample common space have established community gardens with great success. An HOA can organize a garden committee to oversee the project, ensuring it remains a productive and beautiful asset to the neighbourhood. Plus, having a formal structure in place ensures that gardens are well-tended, pests are managed, and any surplus produce is utilized for the greater good.

The transformation of front lawns into gardens offers a unique opportunity to not only grow food but also build stronger, more resilient communities. It’s a chance for neighbours to connect, share resources, and collectively work toward a more sustainable future.

By advocating for community gardens, we can move beyond the sterile aesthetics of lawns and create neighborhoods where nature thrives and everyone benefits. The time is ripe for a new kind of Victory Garden—one that nourishes both the Earth and the people living on it.