Digital Keys for Community Gardens

An app to grant access to community gardens, book green spaces for events and host more community events in green spaces. The app could show events open to the public and eventually give rise to community gardens as local centers of urban farming in addition to green spaces for events.

Green spaces have been shown to improve mental and physical well-being with health benefits like boosting one's immune system yet low-income communities in urban areas often don’t have access to as much green space or fresh produce. However, there are many community gardens but in my experience community gardens are often locked as they have set hours with specific leaders who distribute access and it can be unclear how to actually use the garden. This app or service would allow neighborhood folks to see a calendar of availability for a garden and how to book the space if they wanted to host an occasion (movie night, baby shower, etc.) or just instructions on how to get more involved. I believe today's gardens often have a traditional lock and key but maybe something like a passcode could be delivered in the app too so a person could unlock the space with their phone. This would help increase a person's access to green spaces and foster community.

Youth (under 24)

Older Adults (65 +)

Public Housing Residents

Immigrants / Migrants

Parents