Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
5821 results(198 / 233)
Ecoliterate: How Educators Are Cultivating Emotional, Social, and Ecological Intelligence
2012Daniel Goleman, Lisa Bennett, Zenobia Barlow · · Global
The book "Ecoliterate" presents a new educational model integrating emotional, social, and ecological intelligence. It shares stories of educators, students, and activists addressing ecological issues related to food, water, oil, and coal from over 400 communities across the United States and other countries. The book also outlines five core practices of emotionally and socially engaged ecoliteracy and a professional development guide.
Food educationCommunity디자인 유형화에 따른 도시농업 활성화를 위한 사례연구
2012여화선, 서주환, 정예슬 · 디자인지식저널 · South Korea (Seoul)
This study explored the definition of urban design and the value of urban agriculture, examining trends in South Korean urban agriculture and the current status in Seoul. Analysis of advanced international cases revealed that urban agriculture abroad has developed based on legal frameworks, features diverse facilities and programs, and is utilized for urban environmental preservation. Based on these advanced cases, the study concluded that expanding agricultural facilities, establishing urban agriculture portals, providing education for farming and garden management, and developing local government plans reflecting urban characteristics are necessary to revitalize urban agriculture.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsClimate changeEco-Friendly Urban Gardening Practices in Johannesburg Slums: A Systematic Review
2012Kgosi Khumalo, Siyabonga Xaba, Mpho Motshekga, Thabo Tshabalala · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · South Africa (Johannesburg)
This systematic review examined eco-friendly urban gardening practices for youth in Johannesburg slums, analyzing 34 studies from multiple databases. The review found a trend towards community-led initiatives combining horticulture with sustainable living education. These practices positively impacted household food insecurity, reducing it by an average of 20%, and enhanced youth engagement in environmental stewardship.
CommunityWelfareFood educationClimate changeImpact of urban gardening in equatorial zone on soils and metal transfer to vegetables
2012Aubin Ondo, Pascale Prudent, C. Massiani, Menye Biyogo, Mariane Domeizel, Jacques Rabier, François Eba · Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society · Gabon (Libreville)
An assessment of urban agriculture's impact on soil properties and metal uptake by leafy vegetables in Libreville, Gabon, found strong soil acidification and decreased nutrient/metal concentrations due to agricultural practices. Metal transfer to plants was significant, with amaranth accumulating more metals than other vegetables, though cadmium and lead were not detectable in plant tissues. Amaranth and roselle preferentially concentrated metals in their leaves.
Contamination & food safetyOrganic cycleHealthCommunityCafeteria Man
2012Barb Bergman · Educational Media Reviews Online · United States (Baltimore)
The film "Cafeteria Man" follows Tony Geraci, Food and Nutrition Director for Baltimore schools, as he works to improve school lunch quality. It highlights how local fresh foods benefit students and farmers, and how school gardens provide learning opportunities for students in urban neighborhoods. The film also touches on obstacles to improved school lunch, including schools not receiving purchased fresh produce.
Food educationHealthCommunityEconomicsResearch on Urban Agricultural Development in Wuhan City Based on New Countryside Planning Model
2012Zhang Lin-qi · Hubei nongye kexue · China (Wuhan)
This study discussed a reasonable mode for urban agricultural development in Wuhan city, China, by analyzing its current progress and problems in the context of new rural planning. It described the theoretical and realistic significance of urban agricultural development and concluded that urban agriculture integrated with new countryside planning is a scientific mode suitable for the city's rural development.
PolicyUrban–rural linkageCommunityAGRICULTURA URBANA E ÊXODO RURAL
2012Ana Carolina Vinholi, Pedro Martins · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Itajaí)
This article investigates urban agriculture practices in Itajaí/SC, Brazil, to identify their potentials and obstacles for territorial development. Using participant observation and semi-structured interviews, the study concludes that urban agriculture is an expanding phenomenon closely linked to rural exodus. It also serves as a space for the conservation of traditional knowledge.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsChapter 42 Room for urban agriculture in Rotterdam: defining the spatial opportunities for urban agriculture within the industrialised city
2012Paul. A. de Graaf · · Netherlands (Rotterdam)
This research offers a top-down perspective on Rotterdam's urban landscape to identify spatial opportunities for urban agriculture. It defines promising urban agriculture types based on international best practices and local expert judgment, then formulates criteria for opportunities based on spatial, environmental, and social demands and benefits. The study aims to support bottom-up urban agriculture projects by mapping these opportunities and demonstrating their potential through design case studies, linking them to urban sustainability and resilience.
PolicyClimate changeCommunityEstudo exploratório sobre as características socioeconômicas e produtivas da Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana desenvolvida em Natal-RN
2012Ana Carolina Paiva Rodrigues · VII CONNEPI - Congresso Norte Nordeste de Pesquisa e Inovação · Brazil (Natal)
In the Gramorezinho region of Natal-RN, Brazil, an exploratory study analyzed the socioeconomic and productive characteristics of urban and peri-urban agriculture. The methodology involved examining farmers' socioeconomic profiles, adopted production systems, and commercialization methods for key vegetable species. The study concluded that the legitimization of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Natal-RN is flawed, not only concerning municipal legislation but also regarding the guarantee of support and technical assistance for agricultural activities.
Governance failureEconomicsCommunityPeri-urban agriculturePolicyLocal food actions and motivations in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver, CO
2012Samantha R. Lester · Digital Commons - DU (University of Denver) · United States (Denver)
This qualitative study evaluated the local food movement in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, through interviews with community members, restaurant owners, garden members, and organizers. The local food movement was present through various outlets, including a farmer's market, community gardens, and local food stores. Motivations for participation primarily included building community, a growing population able to support local food, and a broader network of people and organizations.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDesigning Nature for Learning: School Gardens for Youth and Child Education
2012Sarah A. Moore, Morgan Apicella, Sallie A. Marston, Moses Thompson · Children Youth and Environments · United States (Tucson)
An ongoing project in Tucson, Arizona, provides university interns to K-12 schools to build and maintain school gardens and facilitate learning about the environment and sustainability. Based on experiences at Manzo Elementary, a project school in a low-income, mixed-race neighborhood, the program evaluates the effectiveness of school gardens as a tool for experiential learning and describes obstacles encountered and overcome.
Food educationCommunityKreuzberg’s Multi- and Intercultural Realities - Are They Assets?
2012Johannes Novy · · Germany (Berlin)
This seminar aims to identify the contemporary winners and losers in Berlin's urban development and how this is manifested and reproduced through urban space. Central points of interest include conflicts surrounding the "New Berlin," the potential and threats of Berlin as a "Creative City," the spatial dimension of social exclusion, the integration of migrants, and perspectives of the "right-to-the-city-movement" (e.g., guerrilla gardening). Berlin's urban landscape will be compared to those of Paris and St. Petersburg.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsThe Effects of Nutrition Education and Gardening on Attitudes, Preferences, and Knowledge of Minority Second to Fifth Graders in the Rio Grande Valley Toward Fruit and Vegetables
2012Geralyn A. Nolan, Amy McFarland, Jayne M. Zajicek, Tina M. Waliczek · HortTechnology · United States
Research was conducted with 141 minority elementary school children in a primarily Hispanic region of Texas to investigate whether gardening combined with a curriculum on nutrition could benefit them. After comparing pre- and posttest scores, it was concluded that gardening and nutritional instruction had a positive effect on students' nutritional knowledge, fruit and vegetable preference, and snack choices.
Food educationHealthCommunityAgricultura urbana agroecológica - estratégia de promoção da saúde e segurança alimentar e nutricional
2012Silvana Maria Ribeiro, Elaine de Azevedo, Maria Cecília Focesi Pelicioni, Cláudia Maria Bógus, Isabel Maria Teixeira Bicudo Pereira · Revista Brasileira em Promoção da saúde · Global
This study reflected on how agroecological urban agriculture contributes to local health promotion and food and nutritional security. A documentary research, using reports, field activity records, participant testimonies, and an interview with project coordination, showed that agroecological urban agriculture contributes to community protagonism, popular participation, and the development of food and environmental awareness among involved social actors.
HealthFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityGuerrilla Gardening - zwischen Street Art und der Rückkehr zur Natur
2012Barbara Uhlig · edoc Publication server (Humboldt University of Berlin) · Germany
This study analyzes guerrilla gardening as a protest movement where activists plant flowers, trees, and vegetables on derelict urban spaces without owner permission. The motivations for guerrilla gardening are pragmatic, ecological, political, and aesthetic, though its artistic status is often denied. The study demonstrates that guerrilla gardening aligns with George Dickie's institutional theory of art and can be classified as art.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityDIYFarmers against the Market? The Itinerary of an Alternative Marketing System for Fruits and Vegetables
2012Madlyne Samak · L Homme et la société · France
A long-term study in southeastern France examined the development of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as an alternative marketing system for fruits and vegetables. The study found that the non-market dimension of CSA appears to have disappeared over time, from its initial form to current basket systems. This change is attributed to the diversification of farmers' sociological profiles and the transformation of marketing conditions for organic local products.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood Justice, Hunger and the City
2012Nik Heynen, Hilda E. Kurtz, Amy Trauger · Geography Compass · Global
This review essay highlights a growing interest in issues related to food, cities, and inequality within geography. It signals the utility of concepts such as community food security, food sovereignty, and urban agriculture for conceptually linking food, justice, and cities. The essay suggests these concepts are poised to define new sub-disciplinary trajectories.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsSMALL-SCALE URBAN AGRICULTURE.TRANSFORMATION OF FAMILY GARDENS IN RIGA
2012Sersnova Sersnova · · Latvia (Riga)
This study concerns small-scale urban agriculture and the transformation of family gardens in Riga, Latvia. Urban agriculture has gained recognition globally in recent decades due to its economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits.
CommunityEconomicsClimate changeAgroecological urban agriculture - strategy for health promotion and food and nutrition security
2012Silvana Maria Ribeiro, Elaine de Azevedo, Maria Cecília Focesi Pelicioni, Cláudia Maria Bógus, Isabel Maria Teixeira Bicudo Pereira · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This documentary research examined agroecological urban agriculture in relation to health promotion and food security movements, involving local communities. Data was synthesized from reports, field records, testimonies, and interviews with a project coordinator. The study found that agroecological urban agriculture contributed to community protagonism, popular participation, and increased feeding and environmental awareness among social actors.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthFood educationPreliminary results of studies on radioisotopes activity concentrations in vicinity of cement works
2012Zbigniew Ziembik, Agnieszka Dołhańczuk-Śródka, Grzegorz Kusza · Proceedings of ECOpole · Poland
Soil samples were collected from the former "Piast" cement plant within Opole city borders, Poland, and nearby allotment gardens to study radioisotope activity concentrations. Naturally occurring radioisotopes and artificial Cs were found, with K and Cs showing the biggest radioactivity concentration. No significant differences in radionuclide activities were found between soil samples from the former industrial estate and the allotment gardens.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityTransformaciones del paisaje: género y hábitat
2012Carmenza Ochoa Ochoa · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Colombia
Applied research based on Participatory Action Research (IAP) was conducted in Soacha municipality, Cundinamarca, Colombia, with vulnerable populations participating in an urban agriculture program. The study aimed to develop local and simple alternatives for environmental management and landscape improvement, focusing on the reuse and proper management of wastewater for crop irrigation. The project was carried out as stipulated and evolved during its implementation due to its IAP methodology, with observations, conclusions, and notes presented.
CommunityPolicyOrganic cycleWelfare11072 - Instalação de hortas orgânicas em escolas públicas de ensino fundamental e médio de Solânea, PB
2012Germano Laurentino da Cunha, Adriana Celi Alves Martins, Maria José Araújo Wanderley, Raunira da Costa Araújo, Terezinha Domiciano Dantas Martins, Francisca Alexandre de Lima · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Solânea)
This project aimed to establish organic vegetable gardens in public elementary and high schools in Solânea, Paraíba, Brazil. Funded by CNPq, the initiative involved installing 14 garden beds with various vegetables in each participating school. Students received mini-courses on organic vegetable production, and participated in making compost and biofertilizers. The target audience demonstrated receptiveness and support for the work.
Food educationCommunityCompostOrganic cycleCommunity-Engaged Learning in Food Systems and Public Health
2012Julie L. Self, Becky Handforth, Janelle Hartman, Corey McAuliffe, Elizabeth Noznesky, Rebecca J. Schwei, Laura Whitaker, Amanda Wyatt, Amy Girard · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States
A student-driven, community-engaged learning course was developed to enhance student understanding of complex food system determinants and food choices. The course, guided by the socio-ecological model, involved students collaborating with faculty and community partners to define its objectives and curriculum. It featured student-led modules on food preferences, agriculture systems, food access, and agricultural policy, alongside community-engaged research projects that examined food distribution models in metro Atlanta and identified strategies to improve access to healthy food in low-income areas.
Food educationCommunityHealthPolicyCSA & TeikeiA Study on Experimental Construction of Community Garden - A Case Study on Rooftop of SAHA Disabled Welfare House -
2012Seunghwan Kim, Sung-Yung Yoon, Min-Jun Cha, Hae-Jin Yoo, Ji‐Young Cho, Yoon‐Sun Kim · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea
This study investigated the planning, construction, partnership, and cost-sharing processes of an experimental rooftop community garden at a disabled welfare house in South Korea. The project, led by Busan Green Trust and a citizens' council, involved funding from Standard Chartered SC First Bank, volunteers, and administrative support. The established garden provided food production, urban agriculture experience, horticultural therapy, and cultural space for users, demonstrating the potential for low-cost rooftop community gardens to improve urban environments and foster community.
CommunityWelfareHealthDIYImpact of School Gardens on Urban Youth Nutrition Knowledge in Cairo: A Theoretical Framework Analysis
2012Maha Kandil, Ahmed El-Masry, Amira Fathy · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Egypt (Cairo)
This study examines the impact of school gardens on urban youth nutrition knowledge in Cairo, focusing on students aged 14-18. It will conduct a literature review to identify relevant theoretical constructs and employ a qualitative approach to explore school garden impacts. The theoretical framework suggests schools can act as hubs for nutrition education through garden-based learning, potentially leading to healthier dietary habits.
Food educationHealthCommunity