Research & reports

Claudia Vaderna, Robert Home, Paola Migliorini, D. Roep · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · Switzerland

This study explored the main challenges faced by eight Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in Switzerland and the pathways used to address them. It was shown that while organizers often have enthusiastic ideas, generating sufficient income for a fair producer salary is difficult, posing a challenge to long-term existence. The members' perspective (254 responses) indicated a divergence between organizers' expectations and members' more pragmatic approach.

Yichen Jiang, Axel Timpe, Frank Lohrberg · Journal of Urban History · China (Xuanhua)

A case study of traditional urban grape gardens in Xuanhua, China, examined existing issues and external factors impacting the area. The study found that while traditional farming techniques and the urban fabric of courtyards with grape funnels have been preserved, the area still lacks social concerns, and some households need to optimize their business models.

Theodoros Kouros · Built Environment · Cyprus (Limassol)

This ethnographic study in Limassol, Cyprus, examines tactical gardening as a form of informal urbanism. It found that, contrary to common perceptions of guerrilla gardening as community-building, these interventions by home and business owners often serve private gain by expanding into public spaces and can exclude other community members from using those public spaces. The research highlights a negative aspect of tactical gardening, where it contributes to the privatization of public areas.

Emanuele Batistela dos Santos, Dayanne da Costa Maynard, Renata Puppin Zandonadi, António Raposo, Raquel Braz Assunção Botelho · Foods · Global

This systematic review, including 50 studies, examined sustainability recommendations in school feeding policies and practices adopted in schools globally. Frequently cited practices included school gardens and sustainability education activities. Recommendations often focused on purchasing sustainable food, nutrition education, and reducing food waste, highlighting the need for managers to prioritize sustainability education in curricula.

Ana Clara Aparecida Alves de Souza, Fernando Dias Lopes · Cadernos EBAPE BR · Brazil (Porto Alegre)

This article analyzes an urban collective garden, Horta da Formiga, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, through a two-year participatory investigation using Pierre Bourdieu’s framework. The study found that the more protagonists of Horta da Formiga align with capitals considered legitimate by the state, the more they can reconcile contradictions in this field. However, despite individual agency, participants face structured conditions that do not allow for more organic and diverse forms of contradiction reconciliation.

Kumara Ward, Son Truong, Tonia Gray · Frontiers in Psychiatry · Australia

In Australia, a study investigated the impact of the New South Wales Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Community Greening (CG) program. Mixed-method research was conducted on a community garden development program implemented by the CG team in six sites over a seven-month period. Findings showed that community gardening participants experienced positive changes in physical activity, psychological wellbeing, and motivation for social engagement, with these outcomes facilitated by their relationships with CG team members.

Wahidyanti Rahayu Hastutiningtyas, Yanti Rosdiana, Fathul Qorib, Murtiyah Murtiyah · Jurnal LENTERA · Indonesia

A project at SDN Tulusrejo 3 in Malang city, Indonesia, aimed to organize the school environment and provide understanding of the Adiwiyata program by arranging the school yard into a waste treatment area to support environmental health. Methods included mapping productive land, counseling, and school garden planning. The project achieved nearly 80% of its goal, resulting in a more organized and comfortable school environment compared to its state before the arrangement.

Kayla Danielle Staley · Digital Archive @ GSU · United States

This quantitative study explored the relationship between community gardens and community vitality indicators (median household income, educational attainment, business establishment, occupied housing units) using U.S. Census Bureau data at the census tract level. While all community garden census tracts showed an increase in median household income by 2013, no direct association was found between community gardens and educational attainment. The research suggests a loose association between community gardens and increased median household income, but the garden's presence cannot be solidified as the sole reason.

Jilmar Gustavo Comas Piñere · GACETA DE PEDAGOGÍA · Global

This article, based on a qualitative documentary design, explores the agroecological school garden as a pedagogical scenario to strengthen learning and address environmental sustainability issues. The study aimed to highlight the importance of the educational process in improving student nutrition and quality of life. It concludes that establishing school gardens as an integral "learning by doing" strategy is crucial across all knowledge areas and educational levels.

Shefaza Esmail, Maren Oelbermann · Frontiers in Soil Science · Tanzania (Mwanza)

This study investigated farmer perspectives and compost application for soil management in urban agriculture in Mwanza, Tanzania. Semi-structured interviews with 34 urban farmers revealed concerns about climate change and unpredictable rain, with 82% desiring soil improvements. A field trial showed that organic amendments (poultry manure and food waste compost) improved soil water holding capacity by 14-19% and enhanced microbial biomass 1.7-4 times compared to inorganic nitrogen fertilizer, with comparable crop productivity.

Amelie M. Vanderstock, Cecilia Grandi-Nagashiro, Gaku Kudo, Tanya Latty, Shoko Nakamura, Thomas E. White, Masashi Soga · Journal of Insect Conservation · Japan

An online survey was conducted with 443 adults in Japan to investigate the association between nature and gardening experiences, demographics, species identification knowledge, and biophilia (liking) and biophobia (dislike, fear, and disgust) towards invertebrates. Frequent gardeners were found to be more likely to express biophilia and perceive invertebrates as beneficial, and generally less likely to express biophobia. The results suggest that gardening can serve as a pathway to foster appreciation for invertebrate biodiversity in urban settings.

Manuela Alves da Cunha, Ryzia de Cássia Vieira Cardoso · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Salvador)

A descriptive study collected data from urban garden farmers in Salvador, Brazil, to assess the contribution of urban gardens to food and nutritional security and sustainable development. Urban gardens were shown to provide work and income for families, contributing to food supply and security. Beyond producing fresh vegetables for the local population, the activity also contributes to ecosystem balance and sustainability.

Ni Putu Kinsa Destias Wirawan, Frysa Wiriantari, Anak Agung Ayu Sri Ratih Yulianasari · Jurnal Teknik Gradien · Indonesia (Badung)

This qualitative descriptive study explored the design concept for an urban farming training center in Badung Regency, Indonesia. The center adopts an education and tourism concept with a Green Architecture theme, incorporating eco-friendly materials, renewable energy, and water conservation. It aims to promote urban farming methods like hydroponics, biofloc catfish farming, maggot cultivation, and organic waste processing into eco-enzymes.

Hua Zheng, Noriko Akita, Fen Zhang · International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development · China (Wuhan)

This study investigated residents' willingness to construct community gardens in three urbanized residential communities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Based on 382 valid questionnaires, 82.5% of respondents supported community garden construction, while 17.5% did not. Female, elderly, and households with minors showed higher support, but not all supporters were willing to spend money or time.

Hiroyuki Tsunashima · Impact · Japan

Dr. Hiroyuki Tsunashima of Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan, leads a project linking agriculture and social welfare to provide job opportunities for socially disadvantaged individuals. The project involves clients working on farms under the supervision of social welfare staff, emphasizing autonomous skill acquisition and holistic practices. This initiative draws from the Teikei movement, a community-supported agriculture system in Japan, to facilitate the process through food and farmer-consumer partnership experiences.

Sina Razzaghi Asl, Anahita Azadgar · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Iran (Tehran)

A study in Tehran, Iran, mapped the spatial distribution and socio-economic attributes of 26 urban community gardens using semi-structured interviews, qualitative analysis, and secondary data from the 2020 Tehran statistical yearbook. The findings revealed a geographical distribution imbalance, with most gardens located in the southern part of the city. Community gardens were mainly placed in areas with lower average land prices, lower median household income, and higher education graduates, indicating an uneven distribution that favors socio-economically disadvantaged areas.

Giorgio Jivanka, Petrus Rudi Kasimun · Jurnal Sains Teknologi Urban Perancangan Arsitektur (Stupa) · Indonesia (Jakarta)

This study analyzes the application of a hybrid concept in a residential project in Jakarta, Indonesia, focusing on simple rental flats (Rusunawa) and urban farming. It aims to address land degradation and poverty by integrating urban plantations to support residents' economic aspects, alongside considering social adaptation needs. The hybrid concept, guided by criteria like project scale and function diversity, serves as a design criterion for work-based residential buildings.

Arlene M. Rosen · Risk, systems and decisions · Global

This paper suggests that modern Western communities can learn from small-scale societies' long-term sustainable living strategies in dryland environments. These societies developed resilience over thousands of years, rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge, enabling them to thrive through shifting environmental conditions. While not directly applicable to large cities, their solutions can inform ground-up approaches for smaller urban segments like neighborhood collectives, urban gardening, and water conservation methods.

Andrew Millie · Crime Media Culture An International Journal · United Kingdom

This article considered guerrilla gardening, which involves taking on other people’s land without permission. A qualitative study of guerrilla gardeners from the North West of England found that guerrilla gardening is a normalised form of law-breaking. Despite not necessarily being to everyone’s taste and gardeners having an autocratic view of property, it is broadly accepted and welcomed, even by those who enforce the law.

André Ruoppolo Biazoti, Marcos Sorrentino · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (São Paulo)

This ethnographic study investigated political engagement in community gardens in São Paulo, Brazil, through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The research found that community gardens foster affections that empower individuals to engage in territorial management, leading to the formation of expanded collectives that establish unique management forms challenging institutional powers.

Can Wu, Xiaoma Li, Yuqing Tian, Ziniu Deng, Xiaoying Yu, Shenglan Wu, Di Shu, Yulin Peng, Feipeng Sheng, Dexin Gan · Agronomy · China (Changsha)

This study investigated the impact of perceived ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (EDS) on behavioral intention towards urban community gardens (UCGs) among 1142 residents in Changsha, China. While government decision-makers often refuse UCGs, residents' attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms positively impacted their behavioral intention towards UCGs. Perceived ES had a direct positive impact on behavioral intention, whereas perceived EDS had a direct negative impact.

Sri Utami, Endah Ratnaningsih, Yeni Indra Kumalasari, Rahayu Widowati · Rahmatan Lil Alamin Journal of Community Services · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

In Bener village, Tegalrejo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a community service activity was conducted to introduce urban farming and the practice of fruit cultivation in pots (Tabulampot). The activity included urban farming socialization, planting media preparation, introduction of guava varieties, and transplanting and maintenance practices. The practical planting and direct mentoring proved effective in encouraging residents to implement urban farming in their environment.

Annette Svaneklink Jakobsen · University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) · Denmark

This paper analyzes gardening practices and expressions within the "Grow your City" urban garden project in Denmark, focusing on how participants create individual spaces. The project involves hundreds of standardized raised plant beds rented by citizens, who demonstrate significant heterogeneity in personalizing their spaces through planting, decorating, and modifying. The study, based on observations and mappings, explores gardening as a creative practice and a form of participation.

Jun Surjanti, Rahayu Dewi Soeyono, Winarsih Winarsih · INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This phenomenalistic research mapped intergenerational family business potentials among 193 SMEs in the urban agricultural community of Surabaya, Indonesia, using questionnaires. The study found the highest potential among women who graduated from senior high school, with 1 to 5 years of start-up experience in the food industry, primarily employing family members. These businesses were intended to be inherited by their children and managed by the women of the family.

Cristiane Cruz Barros Cristiane Cruz Barros, Óscar Emerson Zúñiga Mosquera, Luciano Pires de Andrade, Horasa Maria Lima da Silva Andrade · International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science · Brazil (Recife)

This case study examined the Integrated Project of Community Gardens around CEASA/PE in Recife, Brazil, using secondary and primary data from semi-structured interviews. The research analyzed socio-spatial dynamics before and after the project's implementation to identify municipal transformations. It aimed to compare the project's reality with policy forecasts and identify environmental impacts, with initial conclusions presented.