Research & reports

YUKUN, HE, HE, YUZHONG, Kiyoyama, Yohei, Ishida, Shigeyuki, Hama-cha Co-Creation Team · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Japan (Kyoto)

This paper documents a 2024–2025 field practice concerning Hama-cha, a traditional tencha in Kyoto, which faces threats from labor aging and persistent operational difficulties. Researchers encountered challenges in accessing tacit knowledge and identifying clear solutions for labor shortages, despite both farmers and researchers recognizing the problem. The study highlights the ongoing operational difficulties and lack of clear solutions for the economic viability of this traditional urban agriculture practice.

Equipo Actualidad Jurídica · Actualidad Jurídica (DOE) · Chile

A bill reported in Chile would have the state promote, foster, and oversee public policy on food security, environmental education, and urban agriculture. It defines urban gardens as cultivation plots of up to 500 square meters within urban territory, intended for growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers for self-consumption. Garden operators would be required to ensure safety and social integration, are allowed to hire workers with priority given to vulnerable groups and older adults, and may temporarily use abandoned lots that pose public-safety risks, though overnight stays or residing on the sites would be prohibited.

Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Robert A. Oster, Kerry P. Smith, Harleen Kaur, Andrew D. Frugé, W. Walker Cole, Julie L. Locher, Gabrielle B. Rocque, Maria Pisu, Jennifer R. Bail, Harvey Jay Cohen, Douglas R. Moellering, Cindy K. Blair · JAMA Network Open · United States (Alabama)

A randomized trial in Alabama, USA, assigned 381 older cancer survivors (mean age 69.8 years, 69.0% female) with suboptimal vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity or physical function to a one-year home vegetable gardening intervention (supplies plus mentoring by certified master gardeners) or to a waitlist. The primary outcome — a composite index of improvement in vegetable and fruit intake, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and physical function — did not differ significantly (4.5% intervention vs 3.1% waitlist, P=.53), nor did vegetable and fruit intake between arms (mean difference 0.3 servings/day, P=.10). The intervention arm did show significant gains in physical performance (2-minute step test +6.0 steps; 30-second chair stand +0.8 repetitions), perceived health (+8.4 points on a 100-point scale) and gut microbiome alpha diversity. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly moderated effects, so the trial does not establish that gardening halts functional decline in older adults.

Karen Haas, Sharon P. Simson, Nancy C. Stevenson · · Global

Horticulture is a leisure pursuit for hundreds of thousands of older adults who enjoy tending flower and vegetable gardens or indoor plant collections. For an increasing number of older adults, gardening is an essential therapeutic activity that helps in maintaining health, aids in rehabilitation from chronic diseases and impairments, or slows the effects of dementia.

Pierric Calenge, Maie Gérardot · Métropolitiques · United States (Cleveland)

The work by Max Rousseau and Vincent Béal illuminates the ambiguities of a policy that organizes urban decline and racial segregation in Cleveland. This policy promotes urban degrowth and racial segregation, balancing algorithmic management and urban greening. The study focuses on the Rust Belt region, which experiences de-urbanization marked by the subprime crisis, racism, and segregation.

N Fernández Salido, A Gallego Valadés, C Castells, Jordi Garcés Ferrer · European Journal of Public Health · Europe

The European U-GARDEN project evaluated the impact of urban gardens on promoting active aging through the participation of people over 65. Qualitative analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews revealed multiple benefits, including increased physical activity, psychosocial improvements such as higher personal satisfaction, reduced stress, enhanced self-esteem, and strengthened community connections. Participants also reported economic savings on food costs and increased food security.

Somayeh Gholami, Shahpar Geravandi, Farahnaz Rostami · Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment · Iran

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of green gardens on the mental well-being of elderly individuals in eldercare facilities in Kermanshah city, western Iran. Eighty participants were purposively sampled and divided into an experimental group (n=40) and a control group (n=40). Using pre-test/post-test measures with the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, the experimental group showed statistically significant reductions in cognitive (p < .01), arousal (p < .01), and somatic (p < .01) anxiety after green garden initiatives, while the control group showed no significant changes.

Brilliant Adam Ramadhani, Shalahuddin Fathan, Jessica Putri Margaretta, Putri Wahyu Pebrianti, Ika Sari Tondang, Nuriah Yuliati · Kegiatan Positif Jurnal Hasil Karya Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Surabaya)

The Urban Farming Group "Keputih Bersemi" in Keputih, Surabaya, faces challenges in optimally selling and distributing its produce, such as pak choi and lettuce, due to conventional marketing methods. The majority of group members are elderly and unfamiliar with technology, limiting sales and distribution. The abstract suggests that digital marketing via Instagram and WhatsApp could increase visibility and sales.

Nasreen Khan, Anusuyah Subbarao, Shereen Khan, Aysa Siddika · Journal of Human Earth and Future · Malaysia

This research investigated whether the adoption of smart urban farming (SUF) enhances the social and economic well-being (SEW) of senior citizens, involving 130 elderly participants from Klang Valley, Malaysia. Survey data was analyzed using SPSS. The study revealed that while Social Entrepreneurship alone may not be enough to encourage elderly adoption of SUF, combining it with social innovation significantly increases adoption. It also indicated that SUF adoption enhances the elderly's SEW.

Stephanie Bezerra Muniz Falcão, Laysla Tamyres de Oliveira Borges, ANA PATRICIA BASTOS FERREIRA · International Journal of Health Science · Brazil

This extension project in Jaboatão dos Guararapes-PE, Brazil, aimed to promote mental health and physical well-being for elderly residents in a Long-Term Care Institution (ILPI) through horticulture. A community garden was created for therapeutic horticulture activities, including sensory gardening and aromatherapy. The project found that horticulture was effective in reducing depressive symptoms, improving mood, and enhancing the quality of life for participants.

Minah Baek, Eunseo Jeong, Eunjeong Kang · Academy of Urban Health · South Korea

This systematic review analyzed 19 domestic studies on the health effects of care farming in South Korea, noting an increase in research since 2020 across diverse fields. Horticultural therapy was the most common intervention, with insect, forest, and urban gardening showing positive effects on stress, depression, and cognitive and emotional functions. Recommendations included increased attention from healthcare researchers, standardization of practices, and policy support.

Fotini Tsofliou, R. Vijayakumaran, Ashley Wilson, Anthony Mills · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · United Kingdom (Dorset)

This pilot research, conducted with fourteen adults in disadvantaged areas of Dorset, UK, explored perceptions on the importance and roles of community food garden and kitchen initiatives. Four main themes emerged from the participants' perspectives: tackling food insecurity and sustainability, utilization of climate-friendly and organic food, bridging the intergenerational gap, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Syamsudduha Syahrorini, Andriani Eko Prihatiningrum, Denny Irawan, Yanik Purwanti, Agus Hayatal Falah, Shaza Dyah Ayuni, Akhmad Mulyadi, Andika Wahyu Nugraha, Fajrian Moch Bintang · Community Empowerment · Indonesia

This community service program in Wedoro Village, Indonesia, worked with elderly residents and posyandu health-post cadres, whose most common health issues were diabetes, high blood pressure, and temperature-related concerns, providing education and training to enable independent health checks alongside outreach and urban farming training aimed at cultivating organic plants as an alternative medicine source. The program reports increased awareness of common metabolic diseases among the elderly and states that the urban farming training brought them joy and promoted improved health through greater activity and productivity, without presenting measured before-after health data.

Anne Kerber, Ivana Guarrasi, Hsinhuei Sheen Chiou, Sabrina Ehmke, Kristi Oeding, Sachi Sekimoto · Health Communication · United States

Drawing on the Garden EngAGEment community garden project at Minnesota State University, Mankato, this article develops the concept of "artful place-making" as an alternative, experiential approach to organizing and teaching care for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias, using arts-based research, place-based education, and sensory studies. It describes the interplay of knowing, making, and being in the garden as fostering a new culture of care in health professions training, multi-sensory connection, and personal, relational, and community transformation.

· Frontiers in Public Health · Global (systematic review)

A systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of horticultural therapy for older people with depression.

Chipo Hungwe · Journal of Women & Aging · Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)

A qualitative case study based on interviews with 19 older women heading grandmother-headed households in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Urban agriculture did not reduce food insecurity or social exclusion for these participants. The barriers reported were difficulty obtaining land to cultivate, health problems associated with ageing, and the physically demanding nature of the farming work itself. The author concludes that social assistance, rather than reliance on urban agriculture as a livelihood strategy for elderly-headed households, is what these households need.

Sri Oetami, Bea Anggraini, Dwi Handayani · Abdi Dosen Jurnal Pengabdian Pada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Surabaya)

This community service activity, conducted in the Rungkut Barata residential area of Surabaya, Indonesia, focused on empowering the elderly. The activity disseminated techniques for pot farming, hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical gardens, with participation from elderly farmer groups. As a result, a vegetable garden was established, and its products were sold to the local elderly group.

Adithya Vegaraju, Solmaz Amiri · Neurology · United States (Washington)

This study assessed the associations between proximity to green and blue spaces and Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) among urban-dwelling older adults in Washington State. The 2011–2019 dataset from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was utilized to assess SPD among residents aged 65 and over. Approximately 2% of urban-dwelling older adults had SPD. The odds of experiencing SPD were lower among urban-dwelling adults living within half a mile of green or blue spaces compared to those living further than half a mile from such spaces within Washington State.

Márcia Emília Moreira De Luca, Carlos Alfredo Franco Cardoso, Gabriel Schwambach Del Piero, Vinícius Feitoza Xavier · Revista da Jopic. · Brazil (Teresópolis)

This study implemented community medicinal gardens in two Basic Health Units and a nursing home in Teresópolis, Brazil, to promote health education and raise awareness about the risks of improper medicinal plant use. Five plants with therapeutic benefits were chosen, and seedlings were offered to patients alongside discussion groups. This initiative aimed to provide information on basic health, facilitate access to plants, reduce medication costs, and indirectly increase family income.

Nasreen Khan, Teck Chai Lau, Booi Chen Tan · Food Research · Global

A qualitative content analysis examining social entrepreneurship and adoption factors behind smart urban farming among elderly people. Interviews were conducted via purposive sampling and analyzed using the framework method, drawing on diffusion of innovation theory and the theory of planned behavior. It found that positive attitudes and positive social influence increase adoption of smart urban farming, that using technology can help elderly farmers continue farming, and that effective social entrepreneurship involvement - providing information and technical advice - influenced adoption. Ease of use was the most important adoption factor, with attitude and subjective norms also shown to be influential.

Yang Y., Kwan R.Y.C., Zhai H.M., Xiong Y., Zhao T., Fang K.L., Zhang H.Q. · Aging & Mental Health, 26(4):745-753 · China

A pilot randomized controlled trial allocating 32 nursing home residents with dementia to horticultural therapy or control. Post-intervention, between-group differences in apathy (Apathy Evaluation Scale) and cognition (MMSE) were statistically significant, indicating horticultural therapy may improve apathy in older people with dementia. It supports embedding gardening in elderly welfare and dementia-care programmes.

· International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · South Korea

A study conducted in Korea from June to November 2021, delivering a 30-session therapeutic gardening program to 111 participants to examine effects on mental health and well-being of older adults.

Wang, Z., Zhang, Y., Lu, S., Tan, L., Guo, W., Lown, M., Hu, X., Liu, J. · PLOS ONE · Global

A meta-analysis synthesizing RCTs and cohort studies on horticultural therapy, a form of social prescribing, for adults over 60. It indicates horticultural therapy can benefit older adults' general physical and mental health.

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.

Angelus Vecky Kopong, Siti Kholifah, Sanggar Kanto · Brawijaya Journal of Social Science · Indonesia (Malang City)

This descriptive qualitative study analyzed empowerment strategies for 10 elderly informants in Kampung Wonosari 3G, Malang City, Indonesia, using the A.C.T.O.R.S theory. The research confirmed that strategies focusing on authority, confidence, competence, responsibility, and support led to increased self-respect, self-confidence, and self-reliance among the elderly community. The study suggests urban farming as a change movement to improve the environment in this slum area.