Be a better neighbor: a simple gesture of neighborliness can transform a community

Natural Health, May, 2008 by Karen M. Jones

WHEN I MOVED into my new condominium, I couldn't wait to furnish its two large balconies. I had noticed that my immediate neighbors' decks were bare, but that didn't keep me from arranging tables and chairs, a rope swing, and pots filled with vibrant flowers. I spent time outside most days, gardening, entertaining, and meeting the neighbors who routinely walked past. Over time, a funny thing happened: Patio furniture and window boxes appeared on the balconies next door, friendships formed across railings and side yards, and an informal neighborhood-watch system sprouted. What started as access to a little fresh air turned into a lively exchange of plant cuttings, camaraderie, and conscious caretaking.

That kind of reaching out isn't just uplifting: Knowing your neighbors' first names does more to prevent crime than adding police officers to the beat, according to researchers at Harvard University's Saguaro Seminar, an ongoing study of the decline and potential revival of community ties. The study also suggests that neighborliness can improve physical and mental health, as well as provide an economic boost.

Your gesture doesn't have to be grand or intrusive, "Simply stopping to say hello and introduce yourself when a neighbor is outside makes a difference," says Thomas Sander, Ph.D., executive director of the seminar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Here are four ways, offered by the Saguaro Seminar's Better Together initiative (bettertogether.org), to reach over the fence with a hopeful, helping hand:

1. sit outside

Spending time on your porch, front steps, or patio invites friendly interaction and creates an effortless neighborhood watch.

2. welcome new neighbors

Deliver a new neighbor's first in-home meal--with plates and utensils that can be recycled--so they don't have to unpack a box or wash dishes.

3. throw a party

Invite neighbors to an open house at your home or organize a summer block party.

4. plant a garden

Whether it's a curbside sunflower patch or communal tomato garden, planting and nurturing a plot of earth with neighbors can make deep connections bloom.