Apartment Complexes Are Embracing Gardens As Amenities
If you're apartment hunting, you may have noticed a trend blossoming in recent years. In addition to the usual amenities, such as gyms and pools, gardens have risen in popularity. This shift follows gardening's rise in popularity over the past few years, with 35% of Americans growing their own food.
While you might not be explicitly hunting for a place with perfect growing potential, choosing a space with a garden could benefit your quality of life in your new home.
There are many different kinds of gardens and ways to use them. Figuring out how to fit apartment gardening into your lifestyle will allow you to learn about the world around you, practice self-care and get to know your neighbors.
Digging Into Community Gardens
If you're not familiar with gardening practices, community gardens are a great place to learn and hone your skills. One of the beautiful things about a community project is that a lot of the space, plants and supplies are already there and available to use. When you get involved, you have the opportunity to see how experienced gardeners work, which may help you tend to your own plants.
In city environments, gardening — working with dirt and growing things with your own two hands — can give you the healthy touch of nature you need. If you can't take a walk in the park or get out of the hustle and bustle every day, you can spend time with your plants and work hard to take care of them. It's rewarding, healthy and fun.
New York has had community gardens cropping up throughout the boroughs. In Harlem, for example, GrowNYC helped develop Luigi’s Garden, a small community space where neighbors and groups can both grow food sustainably and host events. When searching for a property in the city, keep an eye out for community gardens that can help you get involved, learn new skills and make connections with neighbors.
2. Variety and Creativity in Garden Design
The type of garden you find in your apartment complex will probably depend on the space available. In urban areas, many buildings have to get creative.
For instance, they may have raised gardens that sit in above-ground planters. These containers can be anywhere, including rooftops, decks, balconies or on grass or concrete. They also eliminate many of the problems associated with typical grow operations, as they require no digging and prevent weed growth.
In New York, green space isn’t always easy to come by. However, you can also find apartments and properties in the metro area with both shared and private outdoor terraces and gardens. In Queens, for example, the Kew Gardens neighborhood is well-known for its greenery. Hampton Court capitalizes on this reputation with a complex that offers close proximity to parks as well as its own flower-filled courtyards, giving residents a true country feeling in an urban environment.
Gardens as Community Spaces
In this day in age, it can be difficult to get to know your neighbors. People are often more isolated than ever, especially in large city environments. Gardens can act as meeting ground and social space for people to spend time together and get to know one another.
Community gardens are also beautiful spaces to spend time in. If you're looking to meet friends or build healthy, social relationships with the people in your neighborhood, finding an apartment complex that offers a gardening space could be ideal.
The Belgravia, located in the Upper East Side, offers a unique community space for condominium residents with a Japanese courtyard garden. This stylized amenity allows residents to gather in a natural space within their own building, where they can form community ties or simply take a quick break in the middle of a busy day.
Going Green
It's no secret that gardening is beneficial for the environment. If you're growing native plants and using rainwater, participating in your community garden is an excellent way to give back to the earth. You can also go a step further and start a compost pile, tossing in items like newspaper, cardboard, food scraps, weeds and grass clippings. Once the compost breaks down, you can use it as a natural fertilizer for your plants.
Growing food allows you to lead a greener lifestyle. When you take the initiative to raise even one of your own vegetables, you're eliminating transportation materials, fossil fuel emissions and time spent on grocery store shelves. Gardening also reduces food waste, as it provides you with fresh produce and allows you to give fruits and veggies to your friends and family.
Start Looking for an Apartment With a Garden
In an increasingly modern world, knowing that your home prioritizes a strong connection to the earth and your neighbors can be comforting and motivating. If you choose to move somewhere with a garden, try your hand at growing something! It could lead to an abundance of fulfilling connections.
Holly Welles is a real estate blogger covering design, finance and market trends for apartment dwellers. You can find more of her work on her blog, The Estate Update.
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