Community Gardens
Nuestras Raíces currently manages 8 community gardens and two youth gardens, and plans to expand the network of gardens each year.
Nuestras Raíces' newest garden is the Beaudoin Village Community Garden, located behind the Sullivan School. More information is coming soon.
Significance of Community Gardens
Intergenerational connections are strengthened when children, teenagers, adults, and elders are able to partake in a common project and learn from each other. Most of the elder gardeners come from rural regions of Puerto Rico and have grown up farming. They are proud to pass along their knowledge to Puerto Rican youth, both improving their neighborhoods and strengthening knowledge of their heritage. Older residents who have witnessed the abandonment and disintegration of both the physical aspects of Holyoke and community relationships, have regained a faith in their neighborhoods and a sense of inspiration leading to their participation in gardening. They feel empowered by taking part in revitalizing vacant lots. The gardens create access to cheaper foods for low income people. People are learning about nutrition and have more control over and knowledge of their nutritional intake. Through eating fresh and healthy foods, nutritional levels have increased both within individual families and within the broader community. People are learning the significance of organic foods and also the practical methods of organic growing. On average families are producing over $1,000 dollars of organic produce per year. Some families sell their produce creating additional income. The beauty of the gardens has heightened a sense of pride in belonging to Holyoke neighborhoods. The gardens better the overall environment of Holyoke. Holyoke property value increases. The gardens serve to heighten air quality. They create safer communities.
The gardens improve the environment of Holyoke. Neighbors and community members of all ages have come together to transform Holyoke's abandoned urban lots into colorful and active spaces where both gardens and new relationships grow. The vacant lots of Holyoke now used for gardening were once filled with garbage, needles, and the remains of demolished buildings. They presented health problems for residents including children, negatively impacted community pride, precluded investment, and created spaces for criminal activities. These sites are now flourishing community gardens creating fundamental changes to the city of Holyoke and are serving to empower community members. Presently there are over 100 families participating, 1 homeless shelter, and 5 children plots.
Get more information on each of our community gardens:
