by John Davis
Guam - Starting a garden at home is a great way to be green, eat your greens and make some green. No matter the reason for going green, creating a home garden or green space is good for air quality, not to mention a the fact that a home garden will always supply you and your family with fresh, local produce, which in turn, will help you save money on gas and food.
While it may seem like a daunting task, it's fairly simple to do. When planning to begin your local garden, think small and start big. It doesn't matter if your garden will take up a large portion of your back yard or a small corner of your yard in the back of your house, be sure to check out the American Community Garden Association. This web site has a bunch of useful information that will help you find out the right gardening situation for you.
The ACGA serves the U.S. and Canada, and gardeners can find resources to help start their own community garden and search for gardens by zip code or state. The Association also provides links to other regional urban gardening associations, as well as research and tips about growing in the city.
Across the nation, there are community garden associations to help the budding urban gardener find his or her niche. In fact, at least the state of Washington is educating people to garden organically, conserve natural resources and support local food systems in order to cultivate a healthy urban environment and community. This is only more confirmation that starting a gardening association is not difficult at all and what better time to start than now?
If you don't have a yard, don't worry, be happy. It doesn't matter if you choose to rent a plot in a community garden, or you use the web to find a garden in need of your green thumb, the Internet has made it easier than ever for you to find the right match. Organizations match those with yards and gardens in need of attention with folks who have the urge but not the space to grow.
UrbanGardenShare will also provide information and assistance on organic farming. If you don't have online access where you live, ask around. I'm sure many local farmers will be more than happy to provide assistance to those wanting to garden at home.
And don't forget greenies - as more and more people find that growing their own food is one of the easiest ways to improve individual, community and environmental health, expect potential green spaces to be transformed into urban oases.