User:Mkihiro/sandbox

Week 1: This is my sandbox page. I can use it to play around with wiki markup, make practice edits, and get started on writing an article. It's a safe place where my work won't get deleted before I figure out how things work. Cool!

Being bold is important on Wikipedia.

Community Development Article:

- Process of collective action where community members generate solutions to common problems.

- Broad term given to the practices of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of communities.

- Understood as a professional discipline

- Empowers individuals and groups of people to effect change in communities

- For successful community development, developers must understand the contexts of larger social institutions.

- Complementary definitions and different approaches for community development

- Some approaches focus on the process, while others focus on objectives and outcomes.

- Community development practitioners have developed approaches for working within local communities, particularly with disadvantaged people.

- In the 1960's, "community development" complemented and generally replace the idea of urban renewal.

Week 2: New article: Neighborhood Watch

- Also known as crime watch

- An organized group of civilians devoted to crime prevention within a neighborhood

- Includes educating residents on safety and security, as well as the steps to achieve them

- May be organized as its own group or a function of a neighborhood association

- When suspecting criminal activities, members are encouraged to contact authorities and not to intervene

Week 3: I am choosing to improve the existing stub-article on Community gardening. I plan to enhance the definition of community gardening, describe different types and purposes of community gardens, and explain where community gardens can be found.

Week 4:

Definition for community gardens:

- use either individual/shared plots on private/public land to produce fruit, vegetables, and/or plants grown for attractive appearances

- gardened by collective interests and groups of people that form community

Purpose:

- Community gardens are open spaces managed and operated by members of the local community for a variety of purposes.

- Gardens have a variety of purposes: vegetation growing (either as landscape or for consumption), some schemes are experimental permaculture plots, others use organic methods and yet others are concerned with health, education, and training issues.

- Has the power to help alleviate pressures of food desert effect by offering fresh produce with inexpensive methods, sustainability, and close neighborhood proximity.

Types of community gardens:

Multiple types of community gardens
 * Neighborhood gardens
 * Residential Gardens
 * Institutional Gardens
 * Demonstration Gardens

Final Draft implementations (Weeks 5-8):

A community garden is a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people. Community gardens utilize either individual or shared plots on private or public land while producing fruit, vegetables, and/or plants that are grown for attractive appearances. ( What is a community garden?; American Community Garden Association; 2007; accessed on 2007-11-01)

Community gardens may be found in neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and on residential housing grounds. The location of a community garden is a critical factor in how often the community garden is used and who visits it. Exposure to a community garden is much more likely for an individual if they are able to walk or drive to the location, as opposed to public transportation.

Types of gardens
There are multiple types of community gardens with distinct varieties in which the community can participate in. Community gardens are often used in urban neighborhoods to alleviate the food desert effect. Food accessibility described in urban areas refers to residents who have limited access to fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables. Food deserts often serve lower-income neighborhoods usually in which residents are forced to rely on unhealthy food options such as expensive processed foods from convenience stores, gas stations, and fast-food restaurants. Community gardens provide accessibility for fresh food to be in closer proximity located in local neighborhoods. Community gardens can help expand the realm for ensuring residents’ access to healthy and affordable food in a community.
 * Neighborhood gardens are the most common type that is normally defined as a garden where a group of people come together to grow fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. They are identifiable as a parcel of private or public land where individual plots are rented by gardeners at a nominal annual fee.
 * Residential Gardens are typically shared among residents in apartment communities, assisted living, and affordable housing units. These gardens are organized and maintained by residents living on the premise.
 * Institutional Gardens are attached to either public or private organizations and offer numerous beneficial services for residents. Benefits include mental or physical rehabilitation and therapy, as well as teaching a set of skills for job-related placement.
 * Demonstration Gardens are used for educational and recreational purposes in mind. They often offer short seminars or presentations about gardening, and provide the necessary tools to operate a community garden.