Plants and green spaces provide the human mind with a rest allowing the expression of creativity and an increase in productivity. Playing and learning in green spaces is important in child development. A garden can teach children how food is grown and what it looks like before it reaches the grocery store shelves. Children also learn important lessons about the cycle of life by watching plants respond to the seasons. For older youth, community greening projects can provide entry-level job experiences.
Community gardening can be the first step in self-sufficiency for the homeless.
Vegetables from community gardens help feed people and save money. For those who have plenty, planting and maintaining plants can burn more calories in one hour than doing some aerobics. City officials also take the opportunity to recycle fall's huge leaf harvest through composting and returning the broken-down organic material to the soil. Community greening helps people learn neighborhood and civic participation. They gain skills in working with others and their elected officials, and access to public policy formation, social interaction and economic resources.