Cultivating Community Health: Gardens, Collaboration, and Development

This report examines the potential of community gardens to improve community health and foster collaboration between different organizations. It highlights the key issue of underutilized community gardens and the lack of coordination among organizations, proposing a program centered on cultivating collaborations to optimize resource use. The report analyzes the impact of various external factors, including cultural, economic, political, and social influences, on community development. It also identifies participation and collaborative approaches, supported by social theories, as the chief theoretical aspects. The report details community development principles such as democratic, non-authoritarian, and community self-determination. It also evaluates the strengths of the program, such as its global applicability and local popularity, and its weaknesses, like potential differences among participants. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of collaboration and the effective use of community gardens to address health issues and promote community welfare.

Community Welfare and Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................1
Description of the key issue........................................................................................................1
Analysis of community context..................................................................................................2
Chief theoretical aspect...............................................................................................................2
Community development principles...........................................................................................3
Strengths and weaknesses of project...........................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
There are many communities who are living in a society where they have a capacity to
make a huge impact on life of others. It is essential to understand the concept of community
welfare and development by new generation so that they can lead to work in an appropriate and
suitable frame as well as promote and support each other to grow (Reynolds, 2015). This project
is based on “Cultivating community collaboration and community health through community
gardens” with a clear purpose to provide appropriate report on high cost of unhealthy community
and impact of external influence on community development. Some theoretical perspective and
community development principles will also become part of this assignment. Strengths and
weaknesses of the the article will be explained at the end of this file.
Main Body
Description of the key issue
In present scenario, community gardens are not used up to their optimum potential. This
is a big issue for society because if they utilise public property in proper way then they can
resolve problems relating to community health. The reason behind failing to use gardens in best
way possible is missing community collaborations. Most of the organisation basically
concentrate on their own troubles and resources, they do not care about other people and their
health. Lack of synchronisation can be considered as the prime reason behind this issues. One
cannot say that different organisation are not making efforts to foster community health but less
number of collaboration between them is restriction optimum utilisation of available resources
like community gardens.
Program for addressing issue
The trouble of using public property in proper way can be be solved by utilising
community gardens (Poulsen and et. al., 2014). In this article, the approach for overcoming the
issue was related to cultivating collaborations. If various groups will work together then they can
assure good health of society along with proper use of community gardens which are currently
not utilised according to their potential. This strategy is successful because web-based post
survey and site visits prove that parks can provide huge support in building social capital and
improving health of community. This program promote local coalition, if connection between
two organisation is sound then would not fight about use of garden. Effective synchronisation
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results in resolving key problems which are currently prevailing in community like poor and
outdated health services.
Analysis of community context
Their are various external factors which are making huge impact on the development of
community. One need to understand that any organisation do not have control of these elements.
Below are some factors and their influence on community improvement:
Cultural – Culture include rules which are present in the society. In same developing
regions like Asia and Africa, this external element has made a negative impact on the growth of
community. In order to follow norms, they spend their money on insignificant things like
religion instead of health. But, at the same time, there are some nation who have seen remarkable
development because they have culture of giving priority to resolve the problems which are
present in society (Drake and Lawson, 2014). In developed countries, they have culture of
spending significant amount of time in gardens. This culture positively impacted the program
related to collaboration for using community gardens in order to improve health of community.
Economic – Inflation, public expenditure are some of the key economic factor which
influences big as well as small portion of society and community development. If inflation is
high in an economy then speed of various programs related to health and welfare go down.
Community collaboration also get affected by economical elements as expenditure from the side
of volunteer go down when inflation rate increases.
Political – Events like change in government affect the policies which is made by
previous government (political party). Different organisations may collaborate with each other
and focus on using community gardens in appropriate way but when new government make new
rule then they it can make either positive or negative impact on their working.
Social – Perception, trend etc. are some of the factors which influence community
development. In present time, people have started focusing on their health because they know
that if they cannot enjoy their life if they are not fit and healthy. This trend has influenced
development of community in a positive way.
Chief theoretical aspect
Participation and collaborative approach is most appropriate approach for raising the
topic of community health and assistance which is provided by community gardens (Ghose and
Pettygrove, 2014). Social theories are the chief theoretical perspective in the case. These theories
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are related to the topics like urban development, cultural institutions and group behaviour. Using
community gardens for improving health of society is a practical approach which work is
inspired by social theory. This theory mainly focus on development in urban areas and group
behaviour. Collaboration between different organisations and using community gardens for
addressing issues relating to health basically aim at overall development of society.
Another important area where social theories concentrate is the connection between
contingency and necessity. Problems related to health is increasing in the society and using
community gardens for tackling this issue is one of the best solution of this problem (Cultivating
Community Collaboration and Community Health Through Community Gardens, 2018). If
collaboration between various group will happen in present time proper provisions for issues
relating to health can be made for reducing future problems. This world is aware about merger
and acquisitions of corporate firms, many organisations has attained remarkable success after
amalgamating their business with others. This program uses same idea for social development
and appropriate use of public property like community garden.
Community development principles
If a group or individual is working for society then they have to follow some values.
Below are three principles which was applied in this project:
Democratic – One of the most important part of this project is collaboration between
differentiation organisations who are working in the field community development (Eizenberg,
2012). Democracy is a principle which is related to the following the order of majority but at the
same time assuring that rights of minority are protected. Their are many people who have raised
different points regarding how the community gardens should be used for health and well being
of society. But, only those plans which get majority of votes are selected for next step, i.e.
implementation process. At the time of surveying, views of many people are taken so the
problems which is faced by minority of people can also be taken in account and addressed in
appropriate time. Community gardens are for everyone so any person who want to become part
of volunteer or improve their health, can join the group.
Non-authoritarian – This principle concentrate of having a flat organisation i.e. where
every member has equal rights and get equal chance to give inputs. This principle was applied in
this program because voice of every person who lives in that society or being affected by society
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is heard at the time of using community garden for cultivating collaboration in the community
along with community health.
Community self determination – The main idea behind using community gardens is to
provide strength to the connection between various organisations who are interested in social
development and welfare. This principle talks about discussing the problem and finding the all
the options which is available to community. This does not mean that one cannot take advice
from experts, it simply means that using own experience and knowledge for resolving problems.
This program is stared by various organisations which are present in community and they
develop and implement the idea of promoting collaboration and heath by taking support from
community garden.
Strengths and weaknesses of project
Their is no doubt that this project is successful because it has ability to resolve major
issues at local level (Lanier, Schumacher and Calvert, 2015). People who stay on ground have
better understanding about the problem but if they will not have collaboration and fine tuning
with each other then they cannot address important issues like community health. Below are
some strengths and weaknesses of this program:
Strengths
 This program generated a new idea which can use across the globe. Most of the
community gardens are not used at their optimum level, this program cultivate
collaboration in communities so better health of people can be assured.
 This program got popularity at local level and many people are not collected to this
program. This is a major strength of this program, when various communities see the
number of people who are connected to this program then their confidence and trust in it
enhances.
Weaknesses
 When more people get connected to a program then differences between them also
increases. Organisation can do collaboration but they do not have right to use garden
according to them.
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CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that every collaboration between different
organisation can be done by properly using community gardens. Resolving heath issues of
society is another work which can be done starting a program where people connect with each
other in a garden and resolve their problems relating to health.
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