Community capacity and efficacy are also an important aspect of school gardens. Can anyone in the neighbourhood lend a hand? Are there gardeners available to add some input into a project? Can beautifying the school yard increase neighbourhood capacity? Generally community capacity refers to the knowledge and skills that a community can bring to a project.
The underlying notion of social capital is that relationships matter. The example of social capital in building a school garden might draw on relationships within a community to start and maintain the project. Putnam in his book, "Bowling Alone" ,says "that social capital refers to the connections among individuals - the social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness arise from them" The World Bank speaks of the benefits of social capital in schools. They argue that schools are more effective when parents and local citizens are actively involved. The teachers are more committed, students enjoy higher test scores and better use is made of the schools facilities in those communities where parents take on an active interest in their children's educational well being.
A garden and greening project can help students have pride over their immediate environment, their school. Maybe that pride can spread to helping out and volunteering in their own neighbourhood. Interactions help enable people to build communities. Schools benefit enormously from volunteerism.
School gardens encourage physical activity amongst adults and children. They can be used to enhance access to fresh foods and be a source of community development, with schools hosting workshops on gardening and nutrition. Urban food growing can be a policy of local authorities and policy makers.
They can promote access and inclusion amongst the student community and wider neighbourhood.
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