It’s no secret that here at KOALA ECO, our focus is creating effective, non-toxic, plant-based products that are safe for you and your family, and friendly to the environment. However, household products are just one facet of our commitment to an eco-friendly lifestyle. From our fully recyclable packaging to our non-toxic ingredients, we’re always working to explore new ways to improve our overall sustainability and treat the environment with kindness.
That’s why community gardens have become an important point of interest to us. Besides providing a healthy activity for gardeners and novices alike to engage in, community gardens help leave the environment in a better place; something we strive to do here at KOALA ECO.
Here are some of the reasons we love the concept of community gardens.
Reduce your food miles
Consuming locally grown produce significantly cuts down on your ‘food miles’, a term that refers to the distance from the location your produce is grown to where you purchase it. Non-seasonal produce (think rockmelon in winter or mushrooms in summer) typically comes from further away, causing increased costs to both the environment and your grocery bill.
Additionally, when your food travels via air, land, or sea transportation that requires the use of fossil fuel, which increases pollution and uses more energy. Opting to consume your own fresh produce from a community garden is easier on your grocery bill, saves energy, and reduces environmental pollution.
Contribute to improved air quality
Reducing our carbon footprint is a hot topic of late, with many individuals and organizations alike looking for ways to neutralise their carbon emissions. Taking part in a community garden is a fun and effective way to reduce your carbon footprint by returning oxygen to the environment. Incase high school science class is a little blurry, here’s a quick recap - plants intake carbon dioxide (a type of greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming) and release oxygen into the air. So, by reaping the benefits of increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables, you’re also contributing positively to the environment.
Foster a sense of community
Community gardens can be particularly beneficial for children, the elderly, and potentially isolated people. Community gardens show children the benefits of hard work, teamwork, and patience while fostering a sense of community and togetherness in all gardeners.
Aid in fighting food insecurity
Food insecurity occurs when people do not have access to nutritious food, either due to a lack of affordability or lack of supply due to location. Though the majority of Australians are fortunate enough to have access to fresh produce, food insecurity remains a very real issue. By cultivating a community garden, you reduce the likelihood of food insecurity in your area and help improve the overall health of your community.
Ni siri kwamba hapa katika Kola Eco, lengo letu ni kuunda bidhaa za ufanisi, zisizo na sumu, za mimea ambazo ni salama kwa wewe na familia yako, na rafiki kwa mazingira. Hata hivyo, bidhaa za nyumbani ni sehemu moja tu ya kujitolea kwetu kwa mtindo wa maisha unaofaa mazingira. Kutoka kwa ufungaji wetu unaoweza kurejeshwa kikamilifu hadi viungo vyetu visivyo na sumu, sisi daima tunafanya kazi ya kuchunguza njia mpya za kuboresha uendelevu wetu wa jumla na kutibu mazingira kwa fadhili. Hiyo ndiyo sababu bustani za jamii zimekuwa sehemu muhimu ya maslahi kwetu. Mbali na kutoa shughuli nzuri kwa wakulima na novices sawa kushiriki katika, bustani jamii kusaidia kuondoka mazingira katika mahali bora; kitu sisi kujitahidi kufanya hapa katika KOALA ECO. Hapa ni baadhi ya sababu tunapenda dhana ya bustani za jamii. Kupunguza maili yako ya chakula Kutumia mazao yaliyokuzwa ndani ya nchi hupunguza sana "maili yako ya chakula", neno ambalo linarejelea umbali kutoka mahali ambapo mazao yako yanakuzwa hadi mahali unapoyauza. Bidhaa zisizo za msimu (fikiri rockmelon wakati wa baridi kali au uyoga wakati wa kiangazi) kwa kawaida hutoka mbali zaidi, na kusababisha gharama za kuongezeka kwa mazingira na bili yako ya vyakula. Kwa kuongezea, wakati chakula chako kinasafiri kupitia hewa, ardhi, au usafirishaji wa baharini ambao unahitaji matumizi ya mafuta ya visukuku, ambayo huongeza uchafuzi na hutumia nishati zaidi. Kuchukua bidhaa zako kutoka kwa bustani ya jamii ni rahisi zaidi kwa muswada wako wa duka, huokoa nishati, na hupunguza uchafuzi wa mazingira. Kuongeza ubora wa hewa: Kupunguza alama yetu ya kaboni ni mada ya moto hivi karibuni, na watu wengi na mashirika kwa njia sawa kutafuta njia za kutenganisha uzalishaji wao wa kaboni. Kuchukua sehemu katika bustani ya jamii ni njia ya kufurahisha na yenye ufanisi ya kupunguza alama yako ya kaboni kwa kurudisha oksijeni kwa mazingira. In case darasa la sayansi la shule ya sekondari ni la kuchanganyikiwa kidogo, hapa ni muhtasari wa haraka - mimea inachukua kaboni dioksidi (a aina ya gesi ya chafu ambayo inachangia ongezeko la joto duniani) na kutolewa oksijeni katika hewa. Kwa hiyo, kwa kuvuna faida za kuongezeka kwa upatikanaji wa matunda na mboga safi, wewe pia unachangia kwa njia nzuri mazingira. Kuendeleza hisia ya jamii Bustani za jamii zinaweza kuwa na manufaa hasa kwa watoto, wazee, na watu wanaoweza kuwa peke yao. Bustani za jamii huonyesha watoto faida za kazi ngumu, kazi ya pamoja, na subira huku zikikuza hisia ya jumuiya na ushirikiano katika wakulima wote. Usalama wa chakula hutokea wakati watu hawana upatikanaji wa chakula chenye lishe, ama kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa uwezo wa gharama au ukosefu wa usambazaji kwa sababu ya eneo. Ingawa wengi wa watu wa Australia wana bahati ya kupata bidhaa mpya, ukosefu wa usalama wa chakula unabaki kuwa tatizo kubwa. Kwa kukuza bustani ya jamii, unapunguza uwezekano wa ukosefu wa usalama wa chakula katika eneo lako na kusaidia kuboresha afya ya jumla ya jamii yako.