Lake Valley Seed companies provided the gardeners with a very good start on their gardening needs. Gardens grow at Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center, Eliza Bryant Nursing Home, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Children's Aid Society, at one-third of the 118 Cleveland Municipal Schools, and in almost all the neighborhoods of Cleveland. We pride ourselves in providing help to those who need it most. This unique partnership of Extension and City Government provides education and basic gardening supplies that enables the participants to leverage their own resources of imagination, creativity, perseverance and patience to establish urban oases. Gardens and other green spaces are crucial to the health of cities and to people's perception of their quality of life.
Gardening promotes physical fitness for adults and provides alternatives to crime among youths.
Urban dwellers who lack leisure time and disposable income gain relief from the stress of city life in their gardens. Community gardens build community spirit by providing people of different ages, incomes and cultures a common goal. And, gardens are a practical approach to reclaiming vacant lots that will encourage people and businesses to move back into the city. Forming a community garden is something people can do right now to improve their neighborhood. Urban Gardening cultivates leadership skills, self-esteem, neighborhood pride and community spirit.