Research & reports

Ayuni Kusumawati, Gabe Arif Ditama Sinaga, Yani Kurniawan, Nur Aisyah Aminy, Hafida Ruminar · Agricultural Social Economic Journal · Indonesia (Malang)

This critical reflection study investigated the perspectives on urban farming implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malang City, Indonesia, with 30 participants from Lowokwaru, Sukun, and Blimbing Districts. The research aimed to identify factors affecting urban farming's success in supporting food security. Findings indicated that growing interest, urban farming contests, social activities, farmer group communities, and government and community roles contributed to the success of urban farming in the area.

Kamal Prasad Acharya, Chitra Budhathoki, Milan Acharya · The Qualitative Report · Nepal

Nepal's NORHED/Rupantaran project implemented participatory action research through school gardening to explore how basic level students (grades five to eight) and science teachers could foster agency in the school science curriculum. Qualitative research found that school gardening activities were helpful and productive for science teaching and learning. The findings offer new insights for policymakers to transform the school science curriculum and highlight the often-neglected collaborative knowledge production through school gardening in a contextual environment.

Zihao Chen, Lin Guo, Zilong Zhang · Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology · China (Shenzhen)

As urbanization accelerates in China, urban green space is becoming increasingly insufficient. This study analyzed Shenzhen's current three-dimensional greening policies and compared them with those of advanced foreign cities. The findings revealed three problems in Shenzhen's policies: a small scope of application, a lack of planning elements, and a low degree of compulsion. The paper proposes improvement solutions and optimization suggestions based on the governance experiences of other cities to address these shortcomings.

Jorge Godoy Román · Materia Arquitectura · Germany (Berlin)

This interview with Erika Mayr, an entomologist, horticulturist, ecologist, beekeeper, gardener, writer, and caretaker, explores her over 25-year dedication to understanding the importance of bees for other species. It highlights her personal relationship with bees, particularly in Berlin's urban environment, which involved various urban spaces and communities. Now based in Rome, Mayr shares her experiences and current projects in the city.

Rizki Hegia Sampurna · PengabdianMu Jurnal Ilmiah Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia

This three-year program aims to develop a resilient village in RT 03 RW 13 Desa Sukasari, Cianjur, Indonesia, based on the concept of human and community security. Using methods like lectures and FGDs, the initial phase (2020-2021) established five priority programs: education, religion, security and health, economic productivity, and environment, with various stakeholders involved. By the second half of the first year, most targeted programs, including urban farming and public facility development, were well-implemented. The primary challenge is maintaining stakeholder consistency for program sustainability.

Setha Low · · Global

This chapter examines environmental sustainability and the greening of public spaces in Paris and New York City, tracing the history and impact of interventions like community gardens, urban agriculture, and sustainable parks. These initiatives contribute to ecological sustainability by fostering stronger communities, supporting social reproduction, and promoting environmental justice. The study highlights how human ecological planning and ecosystem services assessments provide scientific strategies for enhancing sustainability in public space design.

Matias Pino Cabeza · Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental · Spain (A Coruña)

This research aimed to identify useful instruments and resources for the governance of community urban gardens. It involved a literature review and an analysis of A Coruña's participation in the European Ru:rban project, which transfers Rome's urban garden management model. Data on A Coruña's participation was collected through interviews with involved actors, event attendance, and document review, and the analysis concluded that the best governance model for community urban gardens is based on collaboration between organized users and the local government.

Jones, Brett Bryan · DigitalCommons - CalPoly (California State Polytechnic University) · United States (California)

This paper details the construction of an observation deck at City Farm SLO, a non-profit organization in California that supplies food banks and offers educational gardens. The deck, located at the highest point of the property, was built as a senior project by three Cal Poly CM students, each with distinct roles in design and construction. The project involved overcoming challenges posed by the hilltop location, from conceptualization through to construction.

Valéria Borges Yonegura, Jennifer Domeneghini, Júlio Celso Borello Vargas, André Luiz Lopes da Silveira · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Curitiba)

This paper focuses on mobility issues in the southern region of Curitiba, Brazil. It points out that the benefits of urban agriculture, particularly the ecological advantages of short food circuits, are hindered by the isolation of its growers. The lack of accessibility in peripheral areas, due to distance or insufficient infrastructure investment, suggests a loss of opportunities in utilizing the transport system.

Liska Mutiara Septiana, Sri Yusnaini, Rugayah Rugayah, Rosma Hasibuan · Jurnal Pengabdian Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Lampung · Indonesia (Bandar Lampung)

A community service activity in Bandarlampung, Indonesia, introduced soilless vegetable cultivation using an urban farming scheme to mothers in RT.04 Rajabasa Nyunyai Village. Through participatory training and mentoring, the activity successfully increased participants' knowledge of utilizing home yards, leading to the adoption of hydroponic vegetable cultivation in their homes.

Nurhanis Abdullah, Muhammad Hasan, Citra Ayni Kamaruddin, Nurdiana Nurdiana, Nurjannah Nurjannah · Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pembangunan dan Pendidikan Vokasi Pertanian · Indonesia (Makassar)

This study aimed to determine the economic feasibility of urban agriculture businesses in Makassar City, Indonesia, focusing on production, market/marketing, and financial aspects. Qualitative data was used for production and market analysis, while quantitative data was used for financial analysis with Payback Period (PP) and Net Present Value (NPV). The results indicated that the KWT Anggrek business was feasible in terms of production and marketing, but the financial analysis showed a Net Present Value of -8,005,133, indicating that the business is not financially viable to continue.

Felix Buabeng, Erasmus Kabu Aduteye · International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development Studies · Global

This literature review examines the contributions and positive impacts of community and home gardens in addressing food insecurity and the overall well-being of household members. As many residents struggle with access to fresh produce and face food insecurity, community gardens can serve as a strategy to alleviate these challenges and help families reduce pandemic-related economic losses by supplementing their diets with nutritious foods. This paper also determines the types of gardening people practice and common crops grown.

Sadhriany Perrtiwi Saleh · Jurnal Dakwah Tabligh · Indonesia (Makassar)

This qualitative study examined the environmental communication strategies and models used by the Makassar Berkebun urban farming community in Makassar, South Sulawesi, to introduce urban agriculture concepts. Data were obtained through interviews and literature review. Findings indicate the community applies four communication strategies: socialization, campaigns, education, and training, utilizing mechanistic and interactional communication models, specifically those of David K Berlo (1960) and Schramm (1954).

Muhammad Sarjan, M. Taufik Fauzi, Ruth Stella P. Thei · Unram Journal of Community Service · Indonesia (Mataram City)

This action research in Mataram City during the COVID-19 pandemic introduced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to urban farming groups. Group discussions revealed that while participants were interested in developing fresh vegetables and fruits and found benefits in meeting family food needs, most members were unfamiliar with environmentally friendly cultivation techniques, particularly IPM.

Jones Abrefa Danquah · Arboricultural Journal · Ghana

A study surveyed 600 landlords in three major Ghanaian cities regarding their perceptions of trees in urban areas. Landlords highly valued trees for providing edible fruits and nuts, improved health, shade, oxygen production, and wind protection. However, negative perceptions included structural damage from roots, trees acting as hosts for insects and pests, and leaf litter and slippery fruits being a nuisance.

Wanda Martin, Anh Pham, Lindsey Wagner, Adrian D. Werner · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Canada

A social return on investment (SROI) evaluation was conducted for the 2018 growing season of the Garden Patch, an urban agriculture program of the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre in Canada. Investments in the program were valued at CA$96,474, while outcomes such as vegetables, gardening skills, health, and work/educational experiences were valued at CA$155,419. The study conservatively estimates that CA$1.61 of social value was created for every dollar invested in the Garden Patch.

Susan Anne Mansel Fitzgerald · · Cuba

This chapter reviews various perspectives on urban agriculture in Havana, Cuba, focusing on farm types, food access, and cultural expressions. It highlights that research also addresses the hierarchies and power struggles surrounding urban agriculture sites and their integration into land-management systems. The study advocates for understanding the rhythms of everyday life to deepen insights into these sites.

Anders Blok, Amanda Krog Juvik, Anna Helene Kvist Møller, Jonas Skjold Raaschou-Pedersen, Jakob Laage‐Thomsen · City and Community · Denmark

This study mapped the group styles, spatial intergroup networks, and cultural-political value landscapes of 130 urban green communities across the four largest cities in Denmark using digital methods. The results showed that civic greening groups are neither neighborhood-based endeavors nor hubs of social movement mobilization, but rather geographies of co-engagement that span cities while also forging new senses and practices of place.

Oluwole Matthew Akinnagbe, Obadamilola Enitan Ipinmoye · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Nigeria (Ondo State)

This study examined the effects of urban agriculture on households' livelihoods in Ondo State, Nigeria, using a multistage sampling procedure with 150 respondents. Major crops and livestock were leafy vegetables (100.0%) and broiler chickens (57.0%), respectively. The majority (82.0%) of urban agriculture practitioners had no contact with extension agents. Urban agriculture significantly improved respondents' standard of living (from 85.0% to 98.0%) and saving patterns (from 66.7% to 100.0%), and also led to improved knowledge.

Arnaud Sapin, Philippe Bodénan, Thierry Lebeau, Ghozlane Fleury‐Bahi · Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology · France

A qualitative study in Nantes, France, interviewed 28 allotment garden users to examine psychosocial impacts. While highlighting benefits like psychological well-being, physical health, self-development, and social bonding, the study found these were balanced by various conflicts reported by participants. Lexicometric analysis confirmed that positive and negative social aspects are significantly associated and must be considered jointly.

Ekaterina S. Shafrai · Architecton Proceedings of Higher Education · South Korea (Seoul)

This study examines the use of green roofs and facades in Seoul, South Korea, linking their widespread adoption to climatic features, systematic municipal support, and promotion of urban farming. It notes their practical, ecological, aesthetic, and social functions, with complex effects depending on building type and climatic factors. The study also highlights that direct adoption of this experience in Russia is not feasible due to climatic differences.

Shawn Bodden · City · Hungary (Budapest)

This essay reflected on the everyday political work of community projects to open up space for new possibilities of living with difference within hostile political environments, drawing on Doreen Massey's ideas of space. Through the case of the Auróra community center in Budapest, Hungary, and its members' community garden project, it examined the mundane and local techniques community groups use to construct better possible futures. The analysis suggested the importance of analyzing the situated and ongoing "terms of engagement" through which people open up, or close down, better possible spaces and ways of living with difference.

Alexandra Zivkovic, Emily V. Merchant, Thomas Nyawir, Daniël J. Hoffman, James E. Simon, Shauna Downs · Current Developments in Nutrition · Kenya (Nairobi)

A feasibility and preliminary impact assessment of sack gardens for women in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya, involving 21 participants in 2018-2019, found reduced household food insecurity. However, key barriers included insufficient inputs and difficulties in group work, particularly communication. The study suggests sack gardens may partially improve diet quality, but further research is needed on household income impact.

Sara R. Healy, Eric R. Morgan, Joaquín M. Prada, Martha Betson · Food and Waterborne Parasitology · United Kingdom

This proof-of-concept study investigated the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs on 82 'ready-to-eat' vegetable samples (lettuce, spinach, spring onion, celery) from 16 community gardens in southern England. Two lettuce samples tested positive for Toxocara spp. eggs, showing an overall prevalence of 2.4% for vegetable samples and 6.5% specifically for lettuce. This study is the first to demonstrate Toxocara spp. eggs on vegetables grown in community gardens in the UK and Europe, highlighting biosecurity and zoonotic risks.

Yaya Hasanah · Journal of Saintech Transfer · Indonesia (Medan)

This community service program aimed to empower the Bumi Nusantara Medan Orphanage in Medan City, Indonesia, through urban farming-based bioentrepreneurship. The program involved introduction, training, and practical sessions on making kokedama and capillary system plant cultivation, along with business management training. The achieved results include training and assistance in kokedama and capillary system cultivation.