by Liz Sinclair

Created on: September 21, 2009   Last Updated: September 24, 2009

Neighborhoods have changed. They once consisted of people who shared family ties, grew up together, or worked for the same factory in town. Neighbors could rely on each other in times of crisis. They shared gossip, cups of tea, ballgames and cookouts. If someone went away, neighbors would collect their mail, water their gardens or feed their pets. These days, people have become more mobile. Some towns exist only as 'bedroom communities,' suburbs for commuters who work in a nearby city. Often, neighbors may not know much about each other beyond names, or may never even have spoken.

"What has changed is having a clear history in common and the amount of contact or visiting. What may be needed is new neighborhood 'glue' to meet the new conditions," according to the Community Building website.

Studies have shown that neighborhoods where people enjoy good relations have lower crime rates, lower rental turnover and home sales and less conflict over noise, barking dogs and trash issues. In these neighborhoods, pre-schoolers watch less television and teens have lower rates of sex.

Here are three good ways to bring a community together through activities that foster good neighbor relations: a community garden, a neighborhood block party and a neighborhood watch committee.

Establish a Neighborhood Garden

The Forest Grove Community in Oregon established a successful community garden. Here is a list of steps they recommend for other neighborhoods to start their own gardens:

1. Make a commitment to setting up the garden.

2. Look for volunteers to help.

3. Contact local city government, or city council, to see what regulations govern a community garden, and how they can help find land.

4. Organize local meetings to establish a garden committee, elect officers, delegate tasks, find land and organize work groups. Work groups are responsible for building fences, gates, installing raised beds, building a tool-storage shed and maintaining these structures.

5. Write proposals to the city and to local business for sponsorship, funding and tool donations.

6. Work out size and allocation of garden plots, set up a bank account for the garden and oversee plot rentals and application process.

7. Create a list of guidelines for gardeners and pass out flyers in the neighborhood to publicize the garden.

8. Arrange for insurance.

Organize a neighborhood block party

There is nothing like a party to put people in a festive mood and bring them together. Consider making it an annual event.

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