Shanon Kearney Lessard

Urban Agriculture Facilitates Community Building Shanon Kearney Lessard

In her book, Lessard explains that communities ideally need four different kinds of capital to succeed: economic, social, environmental, and human. Lessard argues that all four kinds of capital must be developed simultaneously for optimal success, and that urban agriculture can facilitate this need. Furthermore, Lessard contends, urban planners must consider these needs and develop plans that incorporate space for community gardens, which add long-term value to land, restore natural spaces in urban areas, benefit residents by offering affordable local food, and in general improve the lives of residents and the health of the community by encouraging people to become more engaged and active. Additionally, Lessard concludes, community gardens encourage the building of social networks that allow for the sharing of multicultural and multigenerational values, thereby uniting the larger community and making residents feel more invested over the long term.