Aiye Alkame - “Earth Chemistry” aiyealkame.com

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Society has been duped to chase after beauty and status which is inherently a human emotional drive but when

dissecting the choices presented by the 1%, ( Government, Energy, Pharmaceutical, and Corporate Farming entities,

the results have impoverished large groups of people, increased obesity, reduced the nutritional value of food,

polluted oceans and fresh water sources, caused an increase in cancer, and degraded our soil.

Since we are all wired to appreciate beauty and all people deserve environmentally safe choices for healthy food,

water, energy, and shelter, then start today to make a difference by understanding why and how our Earth is being

assaulted by the past choices of industry, governments, and consumers. After understanding how a handful of bad

choices have resulting in our current outcomes, then become the positive change today by doing a little now to

benefit the whole. We are the 99% and the choices of responsible action will benefit people on a personal and

global level that will improve our beautiful environment.

What has been done

What we can do

(GET)

“Grow Everywhere Together”

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10 WAYS You can improve the health of soil in your community today.

THE CURRENT PROBLEM WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY

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1) Lawn Care Kills

• Grass is the biggest crop in the United States. It's everywhere — on our lawns, peaking around the side of streets, blanketing golf courses.

• A study, published in the journal Environmental Management, found that over 40 million acres of land in the continental US has some form of lawn on it

• Fact: 50,000 square miles of lawn growing in the U.S.—almost three times as much as corn

• United States uses more than 600 million gallons of gas to mow and trim lawns each year

• Small engines sold in the U.S. each year contribute about one tenth of the total U.S. mobile source hydrocarbon emissions, and are the largest single contributor to these non-road emissions

• Each 40-pound bag of synthetic fertilizer contains the fossil-fuel equivalent of approximately 2.5 gallons of gasoline. Transporting these bags of fertilizer from the factory to your home requires additional fuel

• According to a California study, in many areas — especially in the West, where water must be moved great distances from reservoirs — the amount of fuel needed to pump the water is at least equal to the fuel used in mowing

• Gas mowers represent 5% of U.S. air pollution, according to EPA statistics

• Fact: One gas mower spew 87 lbs. of the greenhouse gas CO2, and 54 lbs. of other pollutants into the air every year

• Fact: Over 17 million gallons of gas are spilled each year refueling lawn and garden equipment. That's more than all the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez, in the Gulf of Alaska. In addition to groundwater contamination, spilled fuel evaporates into the air and volatile organic compounds spit out by small engines make smog-forming ozone when cooked by heat and sunlight.

Convert Lawn to Organic Food

• Urban Agroecoloy: 6,000 lbs. of food on 1/10th acre

• “Urban and near-urban farming can be highly productive, causing whatever size of land you have to work with to produce with more abundance. It is time to solve hunger worldwide, through creating local food abundance.... Anyone can do it, once you learn how.”

https://berc.berkeley.edu/news/berc-hosts-annual-smogathon-competition

https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/fuels.html https://sites.psu.edu/math033fa17/2017/10/10/american-lawn-care-emissions/ https://scienceline.org/2011/07/lawns-vs-crops-in-the-continental-u-s/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/08/04/lawns-are-a-soul-crushing-timesuck-and-most-of-us-would-be-better-off-without-them/ http://www.foodnotlawns.com/about.html http://www.growingyourgreens.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH6ANjlPf90 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCmTJkZy0rM

• Save on fuel cost

• Save on maintenance cost

• Save on grocery bills • Minimize carbon

footprint

• Grow non-GMO food

• Grow Healthier food • Contribute to carbon

sequestration

• Reduce air pollution

• Reduce water pollution

• Reduce water use

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2) Urban Heat Islands

• Occurs when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. This effect increases energy costs (e.g., for air conditioning), air pollution levels, and heat-related illness and mortality

• Extreme heat events often affect our most vulnerable populations first

• No carbon sequestration capabilities

• No water capture capabilities • Surfaces that were once permeable

and moist become impermeable and dry

• urban regions to become warmer than their rural surroundings, forming an "island" of higher temperatures in the landscape

• On a hot, sunny summer day, the sun can heat dry, exposed urban surfaces, such as roofs and pavement, to temperatures 50–90°F (27–50°C) hotter than the air, while shaded or moist surfaces—often in more rural surroundings—remain close to air temperatures. Surface urban heat islands are typically present day and night, but tend to be strongest during the day when the sun is shining

• Other urban heat island studies have shown that the hottest places in metropolitan areas are often in poor, minority neighborhoods with few trees, and this research can provide a framework for city planners to address the problem

• Globally, heat is the number one weather-related killer, causing more deaths each year than floods, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Extreme heat can kill directly via heat stroke and indirectly through increased risk of heart attack and stroke

Apartment Gardens

• Trees, green roofs, and vegetation can help reduce urban heat island effects by shading building surfaces, deflecting radiation from the sun, and releasing moisture into the atmosphere

• Eating even one vegetarian meal a week can save the greenhouse gas equivalent of 1,160 miles of driving per year

• Build green infrastructure improvements into regular street upgrades and capital improvement projects to ensure continued investment in heat-reducing practices throughout your community.

• Plant trees and other vegetation—Space in urban areas might be limited, but you can easily integrate small green infrastructure practices into grassy or barren areas, vacant lots, and street rights-of-way.

• City officials in Louisville, Kentucky, recently awarded a $115,700 contract for a tree canopy assessment to help the city use trees to address urban heat, stormwater management, and other concerns. "Knowing where we lack canopy, down to the street and address level, will help our efforts exponentially," remarked Mayor Greg Fischer.

• Make traditional water quality practices serve double duty by adding trees in or around roadside planters and other green infiltration-based practices to boost roadside cooling and shading.

• Transform your community one project at a time by planting native, drought-tolerant shade trees and smaller plants such as shrubs, grasses, and groundcover wherever possible.

• Build green roofs—Green roofs are an ideal heat island reduction strategy, providing both direct and ambient cooling effects. In addition, green roofs improve air quality by reducing the heat island effect and absorbing pollutants. Many communities offer tax credits for installing green roofs. Check your local government's website for opportunities. Examples of current programs include RiverSmart Rooftops Green Roof Rebate Program by the District of Columbia and Philadelphia's Green Roof Tax Credit Program

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/gardening-without-a-garden-10-ideas-for-your-patio-or-balcony-renters-solutions-167221

http://theherbexchange.com/how-to-grow-an-eco-friendly-balcony-or-rooftop-food-garden/ https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/what-you-can-do-reduce-heat-islands https://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Global-Warming/Climate-Smart-Conservation/2014/green-works-final-for-web.pdf https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Roof-gardens-help-homes-beat-the-heat-Study/articleshow/48690150.cms https://mashable.com/2015/06/07/plants-you-can-grow-in-apartments/ https://www.thespruce.com/apartment-gardening-for-beginners-4178600 https://theecologist.org/2014/nov/22/want-double-world-food-production-return-land-small-farmers?fbclid=IwAR1TxembmJhBQ0nBf26GVAkHopxVAe-mcwlcxQdCvo_nFyXJsC_p3WkkfsY

• Save on grocery bills

• Eating even one

vegetarian meal a

week can save the

greenhouse gas

equivalent of 1,160

miles of driving per

year

• Minimize carbon

footprint

• Grow non-GMO food

• Grow Healthier food

• Contribute to carbon

sequestration

• Reduce air pollution

• Reduce water

pollution

• Reduce utility bills

• Possible income

generator

• Decrease urban heat

• Not only is gardening

an enjoyable and

therapeutic activity,

but it can help you

reduce 8% of your

carbon footprint that

comes from food

consumption

• Balcony gardens

provide substantial

private and

public benefits along

with reduction of

noise, improved

views, reduction of

city pollutants,

improved air quality

and fresh herbs for

cooking

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3) Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

• The global average atmospheric carbon dioxide in 2018 was 407.4 parts per million (ppm for short), with a range of uncertainty of plus or minus 0.1 ppm. Carbon dioxide levels today are higher than at any point in at least the past 800,000 years

• CO2 accounts for 77 percent of man-made greenhouse gas emissions

• Consuming electricity: Burning fossil fuels emits CO2, with coal releasing twice as much of the gas as petroleum. Worldwide, fossil fuels generate 85 percent of electricity. The number of coal-burning plants will increase as China and India continue to industrialize. Currently, 41 percent of CO2 emissions in the U.S. arise from generating electricity

• Transportation: Whether for business or pleasure, locomotion is the second largest source of U.S. CO2 emissions. International travel is also a factor. A study of cruise ships found that vacationing at sea emits 12 times more CO2 than vacationing on land. The 11-day international Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in Denmark generated 41,000 tons of CO2. U.S. delegates alone produced enough CO2 to fill 10,000 Olympic swimming pools

• Building: Industrial manufacturing emits lots of CO2, but it only accounts for 2 percent of U.S. emissions. Iron and steel manufacturing and cement production are the biggest offenders. These industries consume monumental quantities of heat energy to convert raw materials into construction products.

• Deforestation: Trees are potent organisms for absorbing and removing CO2 emissions from the air. Cutting them down stops that process. Loss of forestlands account for 20 percent of global CO2 emissions. Burning trees for fuel and natural decomposition of forest material also release CO2

Become a Carbon Farmer

• Planting a garden is a powerful act. It gives each of us with access to a little dirt the power to feed ourselves healthy food, as well as something we can do about the threat of climate change

• Plants are the ultimate and cheapest way to suck excess carbon dioxide out of the air. Almost all atmospheric carbon passes through plants during photosynthesis

• Cultivating even a little patch of soil, in pots or in your backyard, matters. Eric Toensmeier, author of the Carbon Farming Solution estimates that his own tiny carbon-rich backyard garden, about a tenth of an acre, can offset the carbon emissions of one American adult per year

• Do not use synthetic fertilizers

• Where plants grow, soil carbon sequestration is something you can do, on your own, easily

https://sustainableamerica.org/blog/how-to-be-a-backyard-carbon-farmer/

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/human-activities-increase-carbon-dioxide.htm

https://thegrownetwork.com/convert-your-lawn-into-a-high-yield-food-forest/ https://smartmoneysimplelife.com/how-to-grow-your-own-food-in-an-apartment/ https://modernfarmer.com/2016/03/carbon-farming/ https://www.ecocycle.org/take-action/community-carbon-farming https://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-09-02/why-not-start-today-backyard-carbon-sequestration-is-something-nearly-everyone-can-do/ https://www.ecolandscaping.org/01/developing-healthy-landscapes/climate-change/gardening-healthy-soil-carbon-sequestration/

• Save on grocery bills

• Eating even one

vegetarian meal a

week can save the

greenhouse gas

equivalent of 1,160

miles of driving per

year

• Minimize carbon

footprint

• Grow non-GMO food

• Grow Healthier food

• Contribute to carbon

sequestration

• Reduce air pollution

• Reduce water

pollution

• Reduce utility bills

• Possible income

generator

• Decrease urban heat

• Not only is gardening

an enjoyable and

therapeutic activity,

but it can help you

reduce 8% of your

carbon footprint that

comes from food

consumption

• Balcony gardens provide substantial private and public benefits. A homeowner with a balcony garden should anticipate reduction of noise, improved views, reduction of city pollutants, improved air quality and fresh herbs for cooking

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4) Restricted Garden Size or No Access to Land

Join a Community Garden Community gardens can help reduce negative environmental impacts by promoting sustainable agriculture; reducing food transportation costs and reducing water runoff. Humans, plants and animals can all benefit from urban agriculture since it creates habitats and improves the ecology of the area Community gardens contribute to a healthy lifestyle by:

• providing fresh, safe, affordable herbs, fruits and vegetables

• helping to relieve stress and increase sense of wellness

• getting people active, which improves overall physical health

• providing social opportunities that build a sense of community and belonging

• giving people an opportunity to learn and share knowledge on gardening, nature, and cooking

• Increase property value

http://community-gardens.ca/content/benefits-community-gardens https://greenleafcommunities.org/the-many-benefits-of-community-gardens/ https://sustainablefoodcenter.org/latest/gardening/strengthening-communities-through-community-gardens https://www.seewhatgrows.org/community-gardens-important-community/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4929211/ https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2018/8/16/the-case-for-community-gardens

Community gardens benefit the community as they help:

• build welcoming, safer communities

• improve the look of neighborhoods

• reduce pollution by sequestering carbon and reducing the shipping of food over long distances

• support pollinator habitats that are necessary for community well-being

• reduce food insecurity

• connect people to nature

• educate people on where food comes from and provide opportunity for people, especially in urban spaces, to engage with their food system

• provide an inclusive meeting area where people of all ages and cultural backgrounds can come together to share experiences and knowledge

• Save on grocery bills

• Eating even one vegetarian meal a week can save the greenhouse gas equivalent of 1,160 miles of driving per year

• Minimize carbon footprint

• Grow non-GMO food

• Grow Healthier food

• Contribute to carbon sequestration

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THE CURRENT PROBLEM WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY

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5) No Fertile Soil Start a Compost It’s one of the most effective ways to minimize the amount of garbage your family sends to the landfill. It can be done even if you live in an apartment or if you do not have a yard. Around 30% of what we throw away are food scraps and yard waste, says the EPA. Not only does this reduce methane gas, which is a major factor in global warming, but composting also controls trash can odor. And the biggest payoff? You'll be left with a rich fertilizer you can use in your own garden or donate to your favorite cause

• On the most basic level, residential and commercial composting is a simple way for cities to divert waste from landfills. Landfills are leading contributors of groundwater pollution, and greenhouse gasses released from landfills contribute to a changing climate. And for cities, composting saves money

• Compost is a trade-able good. Some U.S. companies export their made-in-the-USA compost to foreign countries that need it to alleviate the effects of depleted soil

• Compost Cleans Up Contaminants

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/advice/a23945/start-composting/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyYyy4nKzDg https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-techiques/how-to-start-a-compost-pile https://pathtopositive.org/how-city-composting-benefits-communities-and-climate/ https://smartasset.com/mortgage/the-economics-of-composting https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home#benefits https://www.dumpsters.com/blog/benefits-of-composting https://www.the-compost-gardener.com/benefits-of-compost.html

• Reduces Methane gas released into the atmosphere

• Reduction in landfill fees

• Income generator • Enriches soil, helping

retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests

• Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers

• Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material

• Waste management and awareness

• Reduces carbon footprint

• Binds heavy metal contaminants so not taken up by plants

• Filters air and water of contaminants

• Degrades, and in some cases eliminates, toxic chlorinated and non-chlorinated hydrocarbons, explosives, wood preservatives, pesticides, and petroleum product contamination in soils

• Valuable in cleaning up abandoned mine sites

• Erosion prevention on roadways, mine slopes, clear cut hillsides etc.

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6) Shade and Food Plant a Fruit Tree Fruit trees make healthy people, healthy communities An edible landscape is great for city gardeners, why not plant productive trees, creating an edible landscape with the intention to harvest the fruit for local food banks or to feed the less fortunate? That seems like a great use of common areas and medians. Bonus: Trees are great for the Earth!

• Why We Should Plant More Trees As we learned in third grade biology, trees

are essential to life. They create the very air we breathe and filter air pollution.

What you may not know is that trees also build soil and help soak up stormwater before it can create a flood, and they offer energy-saving shade that reduces global warming and creates habitat for thousands of different species. Trees also help to reduce ozone levels in urban areas

• Edible trees and shrubs have aesthetic value, but they also provide people and animals with fruit, nuts, and berries. Many cities have community gardens and are incorporating edible trees into their urban planning. Edible trees and community gardens are a major source of food for food banks, and other organizations that help feed hungry families. Through mapping programs, there are many ways to find edible trees in your neighborhood. There are many organizations that promote the planting of edible trees and offer grants so you can plant your own edible tree

https://treecanada.ca/blog/edible-trees-city-planning-and-feeding-the-hungry/ https://www.urbanfarm.org/2016/08/17/urban-fruit-trees/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866717304387 https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/edible-landscaping/ https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/edible-landscaping/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-environment-health-feature/cities-plant-more-trees-to-curb-wild-weather-boost-healthy-living-idUSKCN1NZ1D4 https://www.citylab.com/life/2013/06/hungry-heres-map-every-urban-plant-you-can-snack/6054/ https://beaconfoodforest.org/ https://permaculturenews.org/2011/10/21/why-food-forests/ http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/07/09/public-fruit-trees https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/07/us/iyw-concrete-jungle-atlanta-produce-homeless-shelters/index.html

• Reduced Shipping. Locally grown produce helps the environment in more ways than one. ... Reduced CO2 Emissions. ... Reduced Energy Costs. ... Storm Water Management. ...

• Green Jobs.

• Trees provide food, an apple tree can

yield up to 15-20 bushels of fruit per year and can be planted on the tiniest urban lot. Aside from fruit for humans, trees provide food for birds and wildlife

• Trees save water Shade from trees slows water evaporation from thirsty lawns. Most newly planted trees need only fifteen gallons of water a week. As trees transpire, they increase atmospheric moisture

• Trees combat climate change, excess carbon dioxide (CO2) is building up in our atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced when you drive your car 26,000 miles

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7) Hard Surfaces Increase Heat Turn Dead Surfaces into LIFE With more than one in three American households now participating in food gardening, the promise of fresh, local produce is closer than ever before. With outdoor space at a premium, urban and small-space gardeners have embraced portable and often temporary garden designs to make the most of the space they have available. Whether confined to a balcony, patio, or other paved area, these gardens are sprouting up everywhere using two mainstays of the urban farming movement: raised beds and patio planters or containers

• The world’s current global population stands at a whopping 7.2 billion people, so the absence of space is no surprise — especially considering that most individuals are increasingly abandoning rural and suburban life for the city

• In fact, a report from the United Nations suggests 68 percent of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050. When you combine this number with the estimated population growth of 9.6 billion by that same year, space quickly becomes a thing of the past

• But the surge in world population is just a minor hiccup for city dwellers who are learning to put down their roots – with urban gardening,

https://learn.eartheasy.com/articles/gardening-on-concrete-with-raised-beds-and-patio-containers/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w446tDOC4KA https://www.thriftyfun.com/Planting-a-Garden-on-Top-of-Concrete-1.html https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/three-key-benefits-of-gardening-in-raised-beds/ https://www.greenwaybiotech.com/blogs/gardening-articles/the-concrete-jungle-just-became-a-little-more-edible-with-urban-gardening https://money.com/gardening-grocery-savings/

• Reducing Carbon Emissions

• Urban gardens significantly cut down on the amount of fossil fuel typically used to transport, package and sell food

• Community Building

• Food Security, unfortunately, some regions suffer from food shortages and even more don’t provide access to affordable, nutritious food. Whether you are resolving this problem on an individual scale for you and/or your family, or on a larger scale for your community, urban gardening is beneficial in part by its ability to provide healthy food to local populations

• Green Space, just as important as living space, is green space. Urban gardens create a healthier city ecosystem by decreasing carbon in the air, cooling the city, and reducing runoff from rain

• Save on grocery bills

• Minimize carbon footprint

• Grow non-GMO food

• Grow Healthier food

• Contribute to carbon sequestration

• Reduce air pollution

• Reduce water pollution

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8) Food Comes from the Store Education Program (Elementary schools) The goal of a school program is to get more local food into the schools and teach the next generation the importance of sustainable food. Through innovative programs like the Power of Produce (POP) Club, farmers markets across the country are teaching children how to make healthy eating choices.

• A child's nutrition is very important in their early years as their bodies develop. “Research shows us that when children grow some of their own food, they develop what we call “food empathy”, a deeper connection with food, which is proven to lead to a healthier life. Food empathetic children have better diets, eat more fruit and vegetables and have a better understanding of food and nutrition. At a time when Ireland still has among the highest rates of childhood obesity in the EU, establishing a deeper connection with food is more important than ever.” “Children need to learn the simple magic of taking food from the seed, from the earth or from the rivers and then to transform it into something simple and delicious.”

https://www.ecolandscaping.org/01/developing-healthy-landscapes/climate-change/gardening-healthy-soil-carbon-sequestration/ https://www.newsweek.com/kids-food-nutrition-misconceptions-survey-624337 https://sustainableamerica.org/blog/mini-doc-jack-johnsons-sustainable-america/ https://youtu.be/M7gBduUddAY https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/08/08/farmers-markets-teaching-kids-where-food-comes https://orcityfarmersmarket.com/pop-club/ https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/children-growing-their-own-food-zbcz1811 https://www.architecturendesign.net/how-to-grow-food/\ https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/10/426741473/healthy-eaters-strong-minds-what-school-gardens-teach-kids https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/07/let-it-grow

“People of all ages can enjoy gardening, but children will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. Gardening is educational and develops new skills including:

• Responsibility – from caring for plants

• Understanding – as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants)

• Self-confidence – from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown

• Love of nature – a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place

• Reasoning and discovery – learning about the science of plants, animals, weather, the environment, nutrition, and simple construction

• Physical activity – doing something fun and productive

• Cooperation – including shared play activity and teamwork

• Creativity – finding new and exciting ways to grow food

• Nutrition – learning about where fresh food comes from.”

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9) GMO Seeds Share Heirloom Seeds Heirloom seeds, gardeners can feel confident that they can grow a similar batch of plants from generation to generation. Other benefits also include taste and flavor. For some fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, the heirloom varieties are considered to have more taste and nutrients. The heirloom varieties also play an important role in preserving genetic diversity. Hybrid plants would not have existed without the heirlooms.

• Saving and sharing seeds can help you feel more self-sufficient and independent, can help you build meaningful relationships with your friends and neighbors, and can empower you to participate in building a stronger and more secure food system

“…a new generation of farmers, chefs, and diners is demanding something better than the commercial seeds being developed and designed for industrial agriculture. “They want real seed from real farmers in their region, and…seed from the biggest companies does not suit their needs,”

https://www.ecowatch.com/why-you-should-grow-heirloom-seeds-1882023137.html https://www.seedsavers.org/ https://www.seedsavers.org/how-to-share-seeds https://www.seedsavers.org/why-save-seeds http://www.takepart.com/feature/2014/11/18/why-organic-seeds-matter/

• Save money, by growing food from seeds you have saved, you can significantly reduce the cost of producing healthy food.

• Income generator

• Preserve genetic diversity, lots of great varieties will never see the fame of a commercial seed catalog. Many of these unique plants only exist in the hands of one or two gardeners. Lend a hand and save some of those seeds that are in danger of disappearing

• Flavor, ever find the best tasting tomato from a seed catalog one year only to discover you can’t buy it anywhere the following year? Seed savers don’t have this problem

• Connect with your garden, every seed holds a connection to the future and the past. Seeds connect us to our history, our culture, our family, and our sense of who we are

• Help save the Bees, Insect pollinators perform a $24 billion service each year in the United States alone. And many of these species are in decline. While you wait around for your flowers to produce seeds, they are providing invaluable food for bees, butterflies, and beetles.

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10) Fake News Lead by Sharing The purpose is to bring together people who share an interest in the practical, hands-on challenges and pleasures of gardening • Leader teach people how to get started

gardening and to improve their plant growing skills

• It’s important to share accurate, current and relevant information with all gardeners. A leader’s top priority is sharing information which is needed to to do well

• A leader’s priority is sharing information so gardeners can advocate and help new gardeners

“Growing from seed to producing plant can take weeks! There’s no better teacher of patience than gardening. But we promise, it’s always worth the wait!”

• Get your current accurate, and relevant information from innovative non-syndicate news sources

https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-home/2007/may-june/three-master-gardeners-share-gardening-tips/ https://garden.org/ https://comogardens.org/resources/garden-leaders/ https://national.macaronikid.com/articles/584ee953599b572c01fd11a3/10-benefits-of-gardening-with-kids-from-creativity-for-kids https://mobilized.news/

• Growing Stewards of Local Food- your community has the power to create a healthy, abundant local food system. Our Garden Leaders are leading the way to a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow

• Gardening engages all the senses

• Gardening encourages healthy eating

• Gardening enhances fine motor development

• Gardening introduces kids to scientific concepts

• Gardening fosters family bonding

• Gardening teaches responsibility

• Gardening helps learn to plan and organize

• Gardening creates environmental stewards

• Gardening develops math skills

• Gardening teaching patience