Research & reports

Christine Porter · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Wyoming)

This mixed-methods study, conducted over five years with five food justice Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the U.S., including quantifying harvests from 33 gardeners in Laramie, Wyoming, and surveying 20 of them, documented benefits of home and community gardening. Four categories of benefits were identified: improving health, producing quality food in nutritionally meaningful quantities, providing cultural services, and fostering healing and transformation. The findings illustrate a range of health, food, cultural ecosystem services, and social change outcomes from gardening.

Fabiola Bernal, Edith Yolanda Romero Hernández, Krystal Dennicé González Fajardo, Susana Sánchez Viveros, Rebeca Monroy‐Torres · Revista Espanola De Nutricion Comunitaria-spanish Journal of Community Nutrition · Mexico

This cross-sectional comparative study in Mexico compared food security levels among beneficiaries of community kitchens within the National Crusade against Hunger program, differentiating between those with and without a community orchard. The study involved three community kitchens: one with an orchard and two without. Results showed that the frequency of food security was 16.67% for kitchens with an orchard and 10.00% for those without. Furthermore, 48.93% of beneficiary households from kitchens with an orchard reported having a variety of foods, compared to 14.28% for those without.

Nancy F. Sonti, Erika S. Svendsen · Society & Natural Resources · United States (New York City)

Semi-structured interviews with community gardeners in New York City explored their motivations for gardening. Gardeners' motivations were found to be both personal and collective, with community gardens providing a space for reflection and a deep connection to nature for many. Joy and personal fulfillment consistently remained the most prevalent motivations over time, while the impulse to improve the community decreased, and food production and cultural identity connections became more common motivations.

John Dotter · · United States (California)

This paper documents people-plant relationships in San Jose, California's ethnically diverse Community and Cultural Heritage Gardens from 1977 to 1992. Unpublished university research, magazine articles, and newspaper stories show how partnerships with grassroots community groups contributed to the gardens' sustainability. Preliminary findings suggest greater utilization of non-English speaking skilled horticulturalists, and case studies illustrate how cooperative development of San Jose gardens produced benefits like neighborhood beautification, stimulated social interaction, and nutritious food production.

Stacy C. Moak, Caitlin P. S. McAteer, Heather A. Rossi, Merrill J. Schmidt · Journal of Community Psychology · United States (Little Rock)

This study investigated community perceptions of fresh food access in two target neighborhoods in Greater Little Rock, Arkansas. Through interviews at food pantries, online surveys with local experts, and asset mapping of healthy food resources, findings revealed that cost and transportation are barriers to fresh food access. Residents supported mobile markets and community gardens as viable options for increasing fresh food access.

Walter W. Furness, Courtney M. Gallaher · Local Environment · United States (Rockford)

A study in Rockford, Illinois, examined community gardens to assess their contribution to residents' access to fresh produce and other social benefits. Data was collected through interviews with gardeners, focus groups, and surveys of food pantry users. The findings indicate that while non-gardening community members benefit from increased produce provided by the gardens, they do not receive all the social and communal benefits associated with active garden participation.

Kathleen Howe, Jenny Bach, Myles DeCoito, Shari Frias, Rebecca Hatch, Susan I. Jarvi · Frontiers in Public Health · United States (Hawai'i)

A collaborative project with five Hawaiʻi Island schools developed an integrated pest management plan to control slugs and snails, intermediate hosts of rat lungworm disease (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). Curricula for grades 5-8 were created, and students trialed five shelter materials, removing over 4,000 invasive slugs and snails while collecting data. This initiative aimed to reduce human cases of the disease and restore public trust in local agriculture through education and pest control.

Austin Brynjulson · Open PRAIRIE (South Dakota State University) · United States (Sioux Falls)

This research explored the role of urban gardens in Sioux Falls, SD, as a tool to combat food insecurity. It examined gardeners' experiences and how gardens affect perceptions of food security and eating behaviors. Additionally, the study investigated the nutritional quality of urban garden produce compared to store-bought equivalents, aiming to understand how urban gardens affect access to and consumption of nutritional food for the surrounding community.

Juliette Colinas, Paula Louise Bush, Kevin Manaugh · Urban forestry & urban greening · Canada (Montreal)

A study in Montreal, Quebec, investigated the socio-environmental impacts of public urban fruit trees, using a public urban orchard as a case study. Semi-structured interviews with users revealed positive impacts on social capital, place attachment, and food knowledge, but no evidence of impact on environmental knowledge. The findings suggest that public, unrestricted-access urban agriculture can have diverse socio-environmental impacts.

Fernanda Emanuele Silva Costa, Natália Sant’Anna de Medeiros, Iana de Oliveira Carneiro · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil

This project, implemented in 2016 at EEEFM Professora Juraci Machado in Serra, Brazil, established a school garden with agroecological practices. With the help of students, teachers, and the local community, the project cultivated four species of unconventional food plants, four medicinal plants, and two fruit trees, plus two leguminous species for nitrogen fixation. The initiative aims to promote agroecological experiences and has already shown improvements in students' teamwork, cooperation, and appreciation for school spaces.

Érich Vinícius Nogueira Gonçalo, Rysley Fernandes de Souza, Hernandes Rufino dos Santos, José Lucas da Silva Neto, Antonio Monteiro de Morais, Cláudia Araújo Marco · · Brazil (Juazeiro do Norte)

This project involves students from the NUPEH group at UFCA Campus Crato-CE developing a community garden at the Lar Fraterno Irma Sheila nursing home in Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil. The students received theoretical and practical training, then presented a methodology and garden layout to the nursing home's director and coordinators. Selected elderly residents and staff will receive one month of weekly theoretical and practical training from NUPEH members, after which the garden will be implemented, with irrigation handled by the elderly residents twice daily. Project evaluation will use questionnaires for beneficiaries regarding training quality and achieved objectives.

Juliana Silva Barbosa, Robson Patrocinio de Souza, Anelise Dias · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

This report details the implementation and monitoring of a productive yard in the Juliano Moreira Colony, Jacarepagua, Rio de Janeiro, an initiative by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The project aimed to promote health through improved food and nutritional security, with a farmer selected based on her interest in agroecology. The backyard contributed to food security, increased family income through surplus sales, and propagated agroecology principles in the community.

Jonas Aleixo da Silva · · Brazil

This qualitative case study analyzed urban agriculture practices in the Mangueira neighborhood, Grajau-MA, Brazil, through visits, observations, and interviews. The study found that while urban horticulture provided benefits like income and product quality, it faced difficulties including reliance on borrowed land, soil depletion, and the use of agrochemical products, indicating that production was not free from chemical fertilizers.

Beatriz Doris Laury Dzib Moo, Sandra Patricia Dzib Moo, Gerardo González García · · Mexico (Villahermosa)

This study aims to help residents of Colonia Linda Vista in Villahermosa, Tabasco, understand the importance of implementing home gardens, targeting 7,500 inhabitants with a sample of 30 households. The primary objective of this first phase is to assist residents in comprehending the significance of urban gardens as an alternative to improve family nutrition and economy. The introduction of urban gardens is particularly emphasized due to the lack of parks and gardens for the residents in this area.

Jheri-Lynn McSwain · Index of Texas Archaeology Open Access Grey Literature from the Lone Star State · United States (Texas)

This study investigated the feasibility of using community gardens as a supplemental food assistance tool for congregate meal sites and food pantries, through a survey of 83 senior adults and interviews with four nutrition site directors in Shelby County, Texas. The surveyed senior adults reported experiencing food security issues, and nutrition site directors faced challenges in providing fresh vegetables. However, no significant differences were found between life satisfaction and food security by age or education level.

Madeleine Chow, Valeria Aguirre, Natalie Sanchez, Erol Ikiz · DigitalCommons-IMSA (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy) · United States (Aurora)

In the Aurora area, 14.8% of residents live in poverty, and 15.9% of Illinois residents rely on food stamps that lead to inadequate nutrition. To address this, "Seedisary" developed the "Seed Shopper," an eco-friendly, seed-infused shopping bag that can be donated to local food pantries or community gardens after use. This product aims to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to residents in low-income neighborhoods and positively impact the environment.

Jendayi Jones · Knowledge@UChicago (University of Chicago) · United States (Chicago)

This project uses interviews and literature research to examine the state of urban agriculture in Chicago and its potential to address nutritional inequity, unemployment, and community building. By analyzing two policy initiatives, two land management organizations, and three interviews, the study aims to identify effective aspects and areas needing improvement in Chicago's urban agriculture setup.

Monika Egerer, Stacy M. Philpott, Peter Bichier, Shalene Jha, Heidi Liere, Brenda B. Lin · Sustainability · United States (California)

This study investigated the role of community gardens in providing human well-being benefits across three counties in the California Central Coast. Multiple aspects of self-reported gardener well-being were measured in relation to the social opportunities of surrounding neighborhoods and the biophysical features of the landscapes where gardens were embedded. The results documented improvements in gardener well-being through gardening across social and biophysical gradients. Gardeners were motivated by diverse reasons, including connecting to nature, improving food access, or enhancing time spent with family.

A. Gargano · Graduate Medical Education Research Journal · United States (Omaha)

A pilot study was conducted in Omaha, Nebraska, to assess the effectiveness of The Big Garden's "Garden to Table" program, which teaches students in five Omaha Public Schools how to grow, harvest, cook, and preserve crops. A direct observation tool was developed and piloted at one site to record children's attitudes, knowledge, and behavior towards fruits and vegetables during lessons.

Ivana George · Journal of international women's studies · United States (Miami)

The documentary film "Greening a Food Desert" showcases Cerasee Farm, an inner-city farm in Liberty City, Miami, Florida, a neighborhood designated as a "Food Desert" by the USDA. The film illustrates how community member Roger Horne established this urban farm to provide residents with affordable produce, gardening training, and nutrition and environmental education. It also features stories from other community members about the farm's impact on their lives and the community.

Sara J. Taetzsch, Andrea S. Bertke, Karen Gruszynski · Zoonoses and Public Health · United States (Richmond)

This study investigated the potential overlap between feral cat territories and human-frequented areas in the Richmond metropolitan area, Central Virginia, using GIS. From July to November 2016, 275 feral cats were trapped for TNR clinics. Findings showed that 8.0% of feral cats had the potential to range onto public elementary or preschool property, and 81.5% of those trapped in Richmond City could roam into public parks and community gardens, indicating a risk of zoonotic disease transmission.

Mitra Mobin, Maria Walderez Szeszs, Juliana Possatto Fernandes Takahashi, Marilena dos Anjos Martins, Daise Damaris Carnietto de Hippólito, Jhonatas Cley Santos Porto, João Batista Mendes Teles, Sidney Gonçalo de Lima, Márcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem · PubMed · Brazil

A 2014 study in a community garden in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, investigated the antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolated from horticulturists with onychomycosis. Samples were identified using phenotypic methods, MALDI-TOF MS, and PCR, and their susceptibility to four antifungal drugs was determined. All isolated Candida species were found to be sensitive to the tested antifungal drugs, with no resistance observed.

Fernanda Maciel Mendes Costa, Ana Paula Leite Fabrini, Tânia Vital, Aline Neves Costa, Tatiana Perassolo, Rodrigo Borghezan · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil

This experience report describes the introduction of Unconventional Food Plants (PANC) into a school environment in Campo Grande, Brazil, through culinary workshops for staff and lectures for students. The initiative aimed to promote healthy eating and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases. As a result, Taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) was included in the public call for supply to municipal schools, ensuring frequent PANC consumption for approximately 1100 students.

A. Laitif Qureshi · Digital Commons - Wofford College (Wofford College) · United States

This research investigated how residents in Victoria Gardens and Cleveland Heights, located in the Northside area of the United States, perceive the Hub City Farmers’ Market and Monarch Café. The Northside, previously considered a food desert, is no longer classified as such due to the establishment of Harvest Park, which includes these facilities. The study aimed to gain insight into how Harvest Park benefits the Northside community and to explore suggestions for future improvements to attract more residents.

Lucas Bras Barbosa, Sérgio Syddney Borges de Araújo, Evelyn Maria Alexandre da Silva Lima, Erikson Kadoshe de Morais Raimundo, Alexandre Eduardo de Araújo, Carlos Roberto Marinho Silva Filho · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Paraíba)

This study analyzed the resocialization aspects for eight prisoners in the Public Penitentiary of Bananeiras-PB, Brazil, through labor activities in educational community gardens. Using a qualitative approach, it found that remuneration was not a primary factor for prisoners; instead, sentence remission, improved food, and occupation of time and mind were the most important aspects.