Tag Archives: garden

Gardening

How Does Gardening Benefit Children’s Lives

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We live in a digital world today, and there is a growing concern from parents that kids are spending more time in front of the screens. The Ryves Up! Program can help you with it. We provide children with more opportunities to get in touch with the nature. In this process, they will learn how to appreciate the beauty of different natural species and harvest foods through their own hard work.

Gardening has a lot of advantages for kids. It encourages children to eat healthier. Through their engagement on the fields, children would cherish the foods they grow, and frankly speaking, half the fun of gardening is being able to eat what you grow. It will help them better understand the importance of keeping a balanced diet. Obesity is a less possible problem for them, considering gardening an increase in their outdoor activities.

Kids love to play with mud. Normally, parents might think that there are lots of germs in the soil, so it releases kids in an environment full of germs and pathogens. But lack of childhood exposure to germs may actually raise their risks of getting diseases like asthma, allergies and autoimmune in their grown-up lives. So getting dirty while gardening may strengthen a child’s immunity and overall health.

Gardening

Community Garden

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Most people know what a garden is, but just in case you don’t, it is defined as a piece of ground used for growing flowers, fruit, or vegetables. Gardens are usually for one household and not shared with neighbors. But a community garden is just that. It’s a public place where several people can use the land to grow their own produce, especially when a living space like apartments or condos don’t have land to cultivate fresh veggies.

 

Community gardens are becoming so popular that there is actually an association to help them grow! The American Community Garden Association. They aim to promote all of aspects of “community food and ornamental gardening, urban forestry, preservation and management of open space, and integrated planning and management of developing urban and rural lands.”

Benefits of a Community Garden

  • Saves money on groceries
  • Limits packaging and transportation costs of moving produce from farm to store
  • Increases economic value
  • Healthier food because you know everything that goes into making it
  • People who grow their own vegetables are more likely to eat more veggies
  • Being outdoors can improve productivity and also aid with stress, mental fatigue, blood pressure, ability to recover from injury/illness
  • Crime prevention
    • If people are interested in taking care of their plot in the community garden, they’re less likely to be out committing crimes
  • Adds beauty to the surrounding area
  • Heightens resident’s awareness of nature and its many benefits, even outside of just gardening
  • Filters rainwater by the microorganisms that live in the soil
  • In larger cities, community gardens provide a spot of green in the concrete jungle of the streets and buildings

 

Here at Ryves Up! we have seen a large increase in parent involvement because kids are excited to share their fresh produce with their families and even try more new foods. The Earth is more beautiful and healthier due to the diligent, yet fun work of the kids. Families involved with the program are saving money on groceries at the store. Ryves Up! is definitely making a difference!