05/14/2016
THE MISSION:
The mission of the Brainerd Community Garden is to reclaim and repurpose a large area of land roughly the size of one city block and provide a place for local community members without land of their own the opportunity to produce food, and provide a place for gardeners to share their knowledge and skills. The garden will also be a valuable educational resource for our local schools as numerous studies point to gardens as a means of improving academic achievement, promoting healthy lifestyles, demonstrating the principles of stewardship, encouraging community and social development. Gardens are great places for children to learn math, business and communication skills through applied activities and interaction. Integrating environment-based education into academic programs improves reading, math, science and social studies test scores and reduces discipline problems in the classroom. While vacant lots can be magnets for litter and criminal activity, community gardens are observed and managed by the gardeners, resulting in a more active local community and increased neighborhood surveillance or “eyes on the street”, often deterring crime. In addition the garden will give our youth a safe place to interact with their peers and our seniors while involving them in beneficial activities.