Lee Ann,
I agree with you, indeed. This is why I am a proponent of community gardens, particularly for lower-income families in dense, urban neighborhoods. If it were up to me, there would be one on every corner because this would speak to the problem that many urban families have with providing nutrition-rich foods for their families, while addressing the challenges of food costs and environmental degradation.

Quelquechose,
Of course community gardening won't solve all the problems concerning food prices and balanced nutrition. What I am suggesting is that it is a start. Think about it. If every block were to plant some sort of a community garden, each block could trade with the other. So, if Mrs. M's building grows mostly spices and seasonings, they could trade with Mr. Q's building which mostly grows the starchy produce, such as, potatoes and so on, and then a system or network of trade could develop amongst each neighborhood. Of course, a tremendous shock to our current system, not excluding a major war on U.S. soil, would have to take place for this system to be implemented with any sort of urgency. However, I do believe that the reason we think it impossible is because we have grown so used to the "old" way of doing things. For example, I wouldn't have thought that I would be able to NOT use my car during the week, due mostly to the fact that I live in an exurb of Miami. But, the more I do it, the easier it gets. Starting, though, is the hardest part, so I do concede to points in that respect.

I do not have any children, so though I could only imagine what it must be like, in terms of the expending of time and energy, I won't fool myself into thinking that community gardening can be made easy for all citizens, but I am sure that it could become a greater part of our food provisions mix.