There are many benefits to growing a flower or vegetable garden. Many people think that gardening is simply playing in the dirt, when in reality it is much more than that and can have many positive effects. With the right know-how, commitment and a little attention and care, anyone can grow a garden. In this article, you will read how growing a garden can help you and your family, how they can help others, and how they can change the environment for the better. Discover the rewards that this "green" action can give. Have you ever wished you didn't have to run to the store to buy that herb like rosemary to finish preparing a meal? Or that you could pick your own ripe tomatoes and know where they came from or if they are truly organic? Well, plant a garden and you can have all these things and more. Having your own smells, sights and sounds. All these elements captured by our senses help us relax and be more aware of what surrounds us. Many neighborhoods and homes have lots or vacant spaces in their yards, planting a garden is a good way to add color and interest to something bare. Whether it's a beautiful flower garden to attract birds and butterflies that may be endangered or a vegetable garden to ensure that people in a community have fresh vegetables, gardens help the environment as well as people. Neighborhoods with community gardens can ensure there is fresh, healthy food available to everyone, they can help bring people together, and they can even reduce crime in their area. The gardens also produce clean oxygen that we and the world can't get enough of, a win-win for both sides. Families who garden together can grow closer to each other, and if children help with the work, they learn responsibility and can feel a sense of accomplishment in a bountiful harvest. Children are also more open to trying new and different foods when they help them grow