The resources below are just a sampling of those that describe the many benefits of community gardens, with references to supportive studies. Some may be useful to community garden organizers/advocates who want to make the case for creating (or protecting) a community garden.
Title: The Many Benefits of Community Gardens
Sponsoring Organization: Greenleaf Communities
Description: Short overview of community garden benefits, with links to supportive references.
Title: Understanding the Social Benefits of Community Gardens (in East Harlem)
Sponsoring Organization: Sustainable Healthy Cities Network
Description: Good short brief of peer-reviewed journal article about considering the social benefits of community gardens (in addition to their ecosystem benefits), including policy and practice implications for decision making about public support and resources for them.
Title: Gardening Matters: Multiple Benefits of Community Gardening
Sponsoring Organization: Minnesota Community Gardens, formerly Gardening Matters (original creator)
Description: Evidence-based benefits of community gardens all in one 6-page article, with references. Downloadable as a PDF but also viewable as a Google doc.
Title: Pleasantville Community Garden How-To Guide: Benefits of Gardens
Sponsoring Organization: Pleasantville Community Garden
Description: A detailed list of the benefits of gardens, with some references.