"Recently, there has been an increased interest in home gardening as consumers are trying to stretch their dollars," said Wolff. "Growing your own food is a great way to cut costs and local gardens decrease the distance food travels from farm to fork reducing carbon emissions and providing a nutrient-rich source of fresh fruits and vegetables."
Wolff said community gardens are helping consumers learn about agriculture and agriculture equipment, Pennsylvania's number one industry, by being in closer touch with where their food comes from.
Selinsgrove Community Gardens is on a seven-acre parcel of the department of agriculture's 223-acre farm. The project is a partnership between the department, Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, the Susquehanna River Coalition and Susquehanna and Bucknell universities.
Pennsylvanians can rent 30-by-30-foot community garden plots for $10 per person, the department said.
