Why Have Community Gardens or Eat Local?

In a nutshell, community gardens are a safe place for families to gather, get to know each other, grow healthy food and get a bit of exercise to boot!

With America now being one of the most overweight countries in the world, it is time to start changing our diets and our lifestyle. Gardening offers both exercise and healthy food.

There is another benefit. Children that garden tend to eat more vegetables!

As stated on our home page, most of our food travels long distances before it reaches our plate. As transportation and fuel expenses continue to climb our food will cost more and more. Also locally grown food is fresher and healthier than food picked and shipped from California, Florida, Mexico or perhaps even Chile or China. In recent months milk products, pet food and even farm raised seafood has shown to contain contaminates that could harm us and our pets. All the more reasons to grow or buy local produce.

Some people do not have the time or land to grow a garden. If that is the case make it a habit to buy locally produced food. Frequent farmers markets or when you shop at your grocery store look for locally produced food.  

 ENJOY THE GREAT FAMILY  FUN!

PPUG

Pikes Peak Urban Gardens, a non-profit, was formed in the winter of 2007  in response to a need in the Pikes Peak region. In Denver there are over 90 community gardens. In 2007, as far as we knew, there were only three in the Colorado Springs area. Bear Creek Community gardens on the west side of town, Old Farm Community Gardens on the east side and perhaps one other. We are seeing record numbers of people interested in growing their own food. 

A small group of us including Erik Running, former president of Solidarity of Hope, Elise Bowan a student at Prescott College (presently the assistant director of PPUG), and Larry Stebbins, botanist and lifelong gardener, decided it was time to add a few more gardens in our area. Hence the creation of PPUG. 

By the fall of 2008, PPUG received funding from Pikes Peak Community Foundation.  Since that time PPUG has assisted several communities start gardens, help incubate two urban farms, start a "No Vendor Fee" Farmers Market for the small farmer, start a 1/3 acre demonstration garden on the west side of the Springs and given numerous talks to over 1000 people in the Pikes Peak region.