Research & reports

Nicole Cuya, Paul Estrada, Doris Esenarro, Violeta Vega, Jesica Vilchez Cairo, Diego C. Mancilla-Bravo · Buildings · Peru

This research aimed to create comfort for users of an educational center in Carabayllo, Peru, by applying sustainable design strategies. The study involved a literature review, flora and fauna analysis, passive design, and climatic analysis using digital tools. The resulting design proposes an educational center with year-round comfort through energy efficiency, eco-friendly materials, green roofs, dry toilets, biofilters, and xerophytic vegetation for orchards, promoting food production and improving public spaces.

Manuel J. Ibarra, Irwin Estrada Torres, Mario Aquino Cruz, Ronald A. Rentería Ayquipa, Sergio F. Ochoa, Juan Ochoa · Sensors · Peru

This article presents an experience report of family-scale urban gardening in Peru, where a prototype IoT system and mobile application were conceived, implemented, and used, considering the cultural aspects of the gardeners. This experience yielded positive results in tomato production, primarily demonstrating the system's capability to self-adapt its behavior to the cultivation conditions of these urban gardeners. This is the first IoT system known to iteratively adjust its behavior to improve adoption chances by a specific end-user population (gardeners).

Camila Neves Lange, Bruna Moreira Freire, Lucilena Rebelo Monteiro, Marycel Elena Barboza Cotrim, Bruno Lemos Batista · Plants · Brazil (Santo André)

Sixty-four lettuce plants were collected from six urban garden sites in Santo André, Brazil, to measure potentially toxic elements and test household washing. Lead reached 0.77 mg/kg at the Capuava 1 site near an industrial complex, above the 0.1 mg/kg limit, with chromium and arsenic also elevated. Sodium-hypochlorite soaking worked best, removing 48% of lead, 46% of arsenic and 52% of vanadium, while plain water immersion removed about 30% of lead and arsenic and cadmium and chromium fell by under 10%. Total cancer risk for children exceeded acceptable thresholds at some gardens, and the authors conclude washing alone is insufficient and environmental source control is required. Roots were not analysed because gardeners did not want beds damaged.

· Sustainability · Arizona, USA

Assesses the feasibility of rooftop rainwater harvesting for food production on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, discussing its potential to alleviate community water stress.

Magda Beatriz de Almeida Matteucci · · Brazil (Trindade)

This case study characterized the diversity of agricultural products from family urban agriculture in Trindade-GO, Brazil, by applying 20 questionnaires to urban properties. Producers in Trindade adopt diverse production practices, notably cultivating lettuce, cilantro, kale, and chives. They primarily use simple, ecological techniques for fertilization and pest/disease control, including organic fertilizers, to avoid harmful and costly agrochemicals.

Leigh Whittinghill, Major Ballard, Anju Chaudhary, Smriti Kandel, Caitlin Mullins, Pradip Poudel · HortScience · United States

This study analyzed runoff water quality from four different nutrient management treatments (conventional fertilizer, organic fertilizer, low-compost + organic fertilizer, and high compost) in raised beds and small plastic pool container plots in the United States. Water samples, collected monthly, were analyzed for pH, conductivity, color, turbidity, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, total phosphorus, and potassium. While significant differences existed between raised beds and container plots, these did not translate to meaningful water quality differences for most variables, except for nitrate-nitrogen. The conventional fertilizer treatment showed greater or more variable nutrient leaching than other treatments.

Sarah Dimick · Critique Studies in Contemporary Fiction · United States (Minneapolis)

This study reflects on guerrilla gardening and its narratives by intersecting Eleanor Catton’s novel Birnam Wood with descriptions of gardens at police killing sites in the greater Minneapolis metro area. It argues that guerrilla garden infrastructures sprout in the soil of highly unequal power, often in the wake of the fatal exercise of state power, and in the shadow of a foreshortened environmental future. These are DIY infrastructures constructed by people weathering entwined environmental, political, and economic crises in the 21st century.

Júlio Barêa Pastore, Paulo Henrique Honorato · Ornamental Horticulture · Brazil (Brasília)

The "Jardim de Sequeiro" is a naturalistic, seasonal rainfed gardening technique developed at the University of Brasilia, Brazil. The first experimental garden, over 5,000 square meters of rooftop gardens, was planted at the Instituto Central de Ciências. It relies entirely on rainfall and withers during winter drought, functioning as a temporary installation redesigned annually. Its first cycle ran from December 2020 to May 2021, yielding promising results despite pandemic difficulties.

Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, Hugo Antonio Fernández, R. Salazar, Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, E. Fitz-Rodríguez, Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, I.L. López-Cruz, Posgrado en Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso Integral del Agua, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Estado de México, México, Uwe Schmidt, Dennis Dannehl · Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua · Mexico (Mexico City)

Yields and water productivity of romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes were investigated in 13 urban gardens in Mexico City. Lettuce yields ranged from 0.10 to 1.20 kg m-2 with water use efficiency from 0.21 to 2.93 kg m-3, while cherry tomato yields ranged from 0.25 to 3.40 kg m-2 with water use efficiency from 0.32 to 5.52 kg m-3. Irrigation in these gardens is empirically done using potable water, showing an excess water supply of 0.27 to 0.4 m3 m-2 for a complete cycle of lettuce and cherry tomatoes.

Anthony Silva Ferraz, Raick Silva Sousa, Maria Cristina da Silva de Carvalho, Valter dos Santos Mendonça Neto, Carlos Costa Cardoso · Revista Eletrônica Multidisciplinar de Investigação Científica · Brazil

This study presents the development of a mobile application providing information on seedlings cultivated and made available by the Municipal Nursery of Açailândia, Maranhão, Brazil. The software was built using the Kodular tool, and seedling information was extracted from a survey conducted at the nursery and complemented with data from specialized websites. Evaluations were conducted with 52 people aged 12 to 27 who installed and tested the application, with results showing good public acceptance regarding the software's utility and applications.

Andrew Jones, Joel Hockin, Max Longhurst · The Science Teacher · United States

This abstract does not describe specific research content or findings regarding rooftop garden ecosystems. Instead, it only provides information about the affiliations and roles of the authors: Andrew Jones, Joel Hockin, and Max Longhurst.

Cleber José Bosetti · Revista Desenvolvimento Social · Brazil

An empirical study was conducted at the Federal University of Santa Catarina's Rural Sciences Center in Curitibanos, Brazil, to evaluate urban agriculture's potential for value generation and food security improvement. The study involved cultivating a 5m² garden for one year using biodynamic agricultural management, followed by accounting for production factors and economic viability analysis. Results indicated that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to food security and that its practices, under resilient agricultural management, are also economically viable.

Tina McIntyre, Rachel Gutner, Hamutahl Cohen, Tiare Saracino, Esen Momol · EDIS · United States (Florida)

This 8-page publication from the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department defines common pests for home gardeners and advocates for diversifying landscapes to manage them. It introduces the "triangle" of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), providing examples of multi-method tools applicable in home settings for pest control.

· Journal of Food Processing and Preservation · Brazil

Designs, constructs, and applies a low-cost solar dryer, studying the drying kinetics of araticum fruit pulp. Demonstrates a self-built, inexpensive dryer for preserving and adding value to produce.

· SOIL · United States

Describes an underground, wireless, open-source, low-cost system using LoRa to monitor soil oxygen, temperature, and moisture; the logging, power, and communication components cost about USD 150, much cheaper than commercial solutions.

Kim J.Y., Abdel-Haleem H., Luo Z., Szczepanek A. · Smart Agricultural Technology · United States

Develops a portable high-throughput phenotyping system using a microcontroller and a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, extended with soil moisture monitoring and water-pump control for automated irrigation using open-source electronics.

Tina McIntyre, Rachel Gutner, Tiare Saracino, Jacqlyn Rivas, Esen Momol · EDIS · United States (Florida)

This 7-page publication from the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department serves as a guide for homeowners and professionals on best practices for mulching. Mulching involves spreading material around the base of a plant to protect it, conserve moisture, or suppress weeds. The guide discusses mulch sources, application techniques, and management practices, clarifying the mulch needs of fruit trees, shrubs, herbs, and vegetables to promote plant health.

Danielle Treadwell, Lisa Hickey, Tabitha Petri, James M. Stephens · EDIS · United States (Florida)

This publication provides considerations and best practices for selecting the best crops to transplant and how to prepare transplants for home and community gardens in Florida. It notes the benefits of starting one's own vegetable transplants, as varieties available in retail centers are often not the best-tasting or best-adapted for the local area.

Vidhya Jagannathan · Georgia Library Quarterly · United States

The Cobb County Public Library Garden is a community garden that expands library services and promotes patron collaboration. This garden was envisioned for teaching, demonstrating, donating, and involving families in growing food and experiencing the satisfaction of harvesting produce. Library gardens serve as a natural setting for promoting nutritional literacy and hands-on environmental learning, reflecting the Cobb County Public Library's mission.

Meike Rombach, David Dean, Tim Baird, Jacob Kambuta · Foods · United States

This study investigated factors determining US consumer preferences for growing and processing horticultural products (fruit, vegetables, wine, beer) versus buying them, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using PLS-SEM, findings showed that engagement with horticulture pre- and post-pandemic influenced preferences for growing/processing, and this engagement was significantly impacted by attitudes towards US growers. Attitudes towards COVID-19 and human values like self-enhancement, conservation, and self-transcendence were also significant, but openness to change was not.

Universidad de Guadalajara, Ofelia Barrios Vargas, María Lourdes Rebolledo García, Adán Rubio Cuevas · GESPYE Gestión Pública y Empresarial · Mexico

This study diagnosed urban gardens in Lázaro Cárdenas de Ocampo, Michoacán, Mexico, identifying private and community gardens and a 20% increase in gardens in 2020 compared to the previous year. A cross-sectional study with on-site interviews, recordings, and photographs was conducted. The findings suggest that urban gardens served as occupational therapy and family integration during COVID-19 confinement, demonstrating promising resilience in the population.

Catherine E. Sanders, Don W. Edgar, Casandra Cox, Leslie D. Edgar · Journal of Human Sciences and Extension · United States

This study explored the social networks and interactions among urban producers in Arkansas, USA, through social network analysis. Using a mixed-methods approach, it collected data on participants' social network interactions and their methods of seeking information about urban farming. The results showed how and where participants preferred to obtain information, peer-to-peer interactions within the network, and key players or opinion leaders in the network. The methods used may serve as an example of network mapping for populations lacking a formal network, to help Extension outreach reach communities that may otherwise be underserved.

Carola Grebitus · PLOS ONE · United States (Detroit)

Using an online survey of 420 residents in Detroit, Michigan, this study analyzed behavioral and socio-demographic drivers of growing produce at home and in community gardens. It found that trust, attitude, and knowledge affect home growing, while involvement and personality drive community gardening; household size affects home growing, and gender, age, and income affect community gardening. The findings offer implications for fostering small-scale urban agriculture through city planning and nutrition education.

Nathan McClintock · Policy Press eBooks · Canada (Montreal)

In Montreal's Mile-Ex neighborhood, Canada, urban agriculture initiatives are transforming vacant lots into green spaces. Participants planted basil and threw "seed bombs" in a vacant lot as part of an effort to "reclaim the city." The practice of greening vacant lots is common in North American cities, and the relationship between vacancy and urban agriculture is historical, with city dwellers traditionally gardening in "wastelands."

Bárbara de Oliveira Falce, Breno Dalcolmo de Almeida Leão, Arnaldo Henrique de Oliveira Carvalho · Meio Ambiente (Brasil) · Brazil (Ibatiba)

This study characterized urban agriculture in Ibatiba, Brazil, by analyzing 22 production units across 10 neighborhoods through spatial distribution mapping and farmer interviews. Positive aspects included a wide variety of foods, considerable independence from external inputs for seeds, fertilizers, and animal feed, and efforts towards environmental education. However, concerns were noted regarding the continued use of pesticides and issues with water origin and utilization, such as spring water capture and limited irrigation.