Communal gardens have become a fixture of neighborhood revitalization and community-building programs. Whether it be individual plots in one garden or one big lot that residents cultivate together, there is a growing escalation of a phenomenon with deep roots in American history, culture—and psyche.

Health threats can begin where you should be safest: the home

The link between housing and illness and injury is incontestable. A home’s structural features can increase risk of falls, burns and other injuries; elevate lead levels in the blood; and exacerbate other conditions, such as arthritis. Poor indoor air quality, caused by contaminants such as radon and mold, contributes to cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma and other illnesses.