Why is food gardening important?

Gardening and growing food promotes health by increasing physical activity and producing fruit and vegetables that can contribute to people's diet. Less than 10% of Queenslanders eat the recommended amount of vegetables for their health.

Many people from emerging communities have come from farming cultures. This means that gardening is an activity they enjoy and seek out. Often the farming done in their homelands was communal and social, so community gardening in Australia supports their social and mental wellbeing.

Community members from several emerging communities have concerns about the safety of fruit and vegetables sold in Australia because of the farm chemicals used. Organic community gardening allays these fears, while providing the opportunity to socialise with people from other cultural backgrounds.

Gardening can be difficult for people settling in Australia due to:

• difficulties in growing traditional fruit and vegetables due to the differences in climatic and soil conditions and local pests
• lack of space for growing food for renters and people living in apartments.

Food gardening project activities

Elm Park Community Garden is a partnerhip between community members, initially led by the Burundi community, Access Community Services, the Logan City Council and the Healthy New Communities program. Our project assists funding infrastructure and co-ordinating activities.

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