Check below for the monthly usage of your garden! 

Telling the Story of 17 Community Gardens: Water Usage, Food Production, and Health

  1. Efficient Use of Resources for Community Benefit:

    • As of December 2024, based on a sample of 17 community gardens over the previous 18 months, these community gardens used approximately 12.8 million gallons of water, which is enough water to grow about 257,000 pounds of fresh produce. We assume 50 gallons of water grows about one pound of plant food. We have 47+ community gardens in our network, so this impact is even larger. 
    • For water geeks, in this 18 month time period, a total of 17,191 HCF (Hundred Cubic Feet) of water was used during this period.
    • What is an HCF? An HCF represents 748 gallons of water. To put this in perspective, that’s roughly enough water to fill 15 bathtubs. 

  2. Connecting Food Production to Individual Impact:

    • These 17 community gardens have about 800 members (or garden beds), which means they grew an average of 324 pounds of vegetables per member over this 18-month period (or an average of 216 pounds per year). This is significant when compared to the U.S. average per capita vegetable availability of 359 pounds per year, contributing directly to healthier eating habits for participants and their families.
    • The average retail cost of fresh produce is $1.89 per pound. Collectively, with 257,000 pounds grown over 18 months, that is more than $486,000 in retail value. 
    • Gardeners at these 17 community gardens invested about $151,000 in water over this 18 months. Water is the number one expense for gardeners. Based on just water costs (excluding insurance and membership fees), we estimate that fresh produce grown by gardeners is $0.59 per pound, or almost 70% less than retail. 
    • Notably, LACGC represents about 2,000 members, so the impact is far greater than this sample of about 800 members at 17 community gardens.

  3. Addressing Health Needs:

    • In the U.S., many people fail to meet daily vegetable intake recommendations due to limited access, cost, or lack of knowledge. Community gardens act as a bridge, offering fresh, affordable, and often organic produce while reducing barriers to healthy eating.

  4. Promoting Sustainability and Conservation:

    • The comparison of water usage to food production illustrates how gardens are a sustainable model. The efficient use of water for local food production aligns with climate goals, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transport and packaging. How does rain impact your water usage? Check out this data chart. 

  5. Building Social Connections:

    • Beyond the metrics, these gardens serve as hubs for community interaction, education, and cooperation. Gardening fosters stronger community ties, reduces isolation, and provides spaces for cultural exchange, as members often grow crops unique to their heritage.