Urban Farm DB
Research catalogue
Database research record2020·Global

"Don't Just Come for Yourself": Understanding Leadership Approaches and Volunteer Engagement in Community Gardens

Jeffrey Gilbert, Christina Chauvenet, Brett C. Sheppard, Molly De Marco

Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development

Urban Farm DB summary

This study investigated leadership styles and volunteer engagement in community gardens through interviews with 13 garden managers and six focus groups with 48 volunteers. Findings revealed that managers struggled to recruit and retain volunteers capable of maintaining gardens. Garden managers exhibited either collaborative or directive leadership styles, both of which were acknowledged and appreciated by participants.