Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1626 results(20 / 66)
4. Growing Place
2021Michael H. Carriere, David Schalliol · · United States
This chapter presents a case study of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, exploring a counter-history of placemaking rooted in the city's "Rust Belt" context. It argues that urban agriculture in Milwaukee has become a globally influential hub, demonstrating that for its practitioners, it is about fostering community and new forms of urban redevelopment, beyond just food production. The study highlights how this overlooked history informs a new approach to creative placemaking.
CommunityUrban–rural linkageEconomicsStarting Community Non-profit Systems
2021Robert M Schulman · VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · United States (Virginia)
This study provides guidance for other institutions to establish community gardens for providing fresh, local, and healthy food to those in need, based on the experiences of a community garden established at a religious congregation in Sterling, Virginia. Entering its fourth year of operation, this case study also addresses the expansion of its mission beyond food to include an educational outreach aspect. Two forms of outreach are envisioned: publishing a newsletter to the congregation to increase interest and volunteerism, and instituting on-site workshops to educate interested members on how to establish a food garden.
CommunityFood educationWelfareRefugee Community Gardens and the Politics of Self-Help
2021Cecilia M. Tsu · Amerasia Journal · United States
This article examines community gardens established for refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in the United States during the 1980s. It argues that refugee gardeners perceived a significant disconnect between their rural lives in Southeast Asia and the role of vegetable growing in the U.S., despite advocates emphasizing continuity with their past. The gardens provided a measure of economic empowerment, but highlighted the disjuncture in their resettlement experience.
Equity & displacementCommunityWelfareEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceAlternativas económicas hacia la construcción de otros mundos posibles
2021Elizabeth Chaparro y Peredo · Encartes · Mexico (Guadalajara)
This study investigates alternative economic practices that emerged in response to structural crises, aiming to satisfy needs outside conventional markets, using Guadalajara, Mexico, as an example. By mapping actors in the city's alternative economies, a network of spaces promoting practices such as alternative markets, consumption cooperatives, community gardens, and bartering clubs was identified. These practices aim to foster community and autonomy, recovering social relations, the environment, and public health.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceIn Search of Maudell Sleet's Garden
2021Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore · Southern cultures · United States
This article examines urban gardening practices by women in the New South during the early 20th century, which provided self-sufficiency and profits. It chronicles how urban planners and zoning eliminated most of these urban gardening opportunities by the late 1930s. The study considers these practices through two collages by artist Romare Bearden, focusing on the gardener Maudell Sleet.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justicePolicyBiophilic Design, Regenerative Design, and Equity: An Intersection
2021Anne Debertin · · United States
This research studied how equity can exist at the intersection of regenerative and biophilic design strategies within an affordable housing model. Three case studies from Minneapolis, Santa Monica, and El Paso were examined using Terrapin’s Fourteen Patterns of Biophilic Design and the Living Building Challenge design guide. The analysis revealed that equity can operate through "place" (a Living Building Challenge imperative) and "connection to natural systems" (a Terrapin pattern). The study concluded that place and connection to natural systems have the potential to act as conduits to human and planetary equity.
CommunityClimate changePolicyHealthThree Histories of Greening and Whiteness in American Cities
2021James J. Connolly, Isabelle Anguelovski · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · United States
This study used state sequence analysis to examine the historical trend of greening (including parks and community gardens) from 1975 to 2014 in nine U.S. cities, in relation to concentrations of white and non-white residents. Findings revealed that the relationship between greening and race/ethnicity varied by city-level growth trajectory. Cities with continuous high growth showed the strongest link between increased greening and whiter populations, while non-white areas in cities with contraction or punctuated growth exhibited uniformly low levels of greening, mostly in recent years.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyHealthMaking locals through local agriculture: citizenship and urban gardens in Rock Island, Illinois, 1913-2018
2021Brian James Leech, Christopher Strunk · Food Culture & Society · United States (Rock Island)
This research explores the historical evolution of urban gardening in Rock Island, Illinois, a post-industrial city, from 1913 to 2018. It finds that while urban agriculture was prominent during 20th-century crises, it has maintained a constant presence, with initiatives like Victory Gardens and community gardens sharing common goals of addressing poverty and food access. However, gardening programs have often failed to acknowledge the underlying causes of food insecurity.
CommunityWelfareFood sovereignty & justicePolicyDouble-O STEM (Learner Guide)
2021Andrew A. Tawfik, Craig E. Shepherd, Linda Payne, Jaclyn J. Gish-Lieberman, Laura Marie Armstrong · · United States
The 'Double-O-STEM' (Learner Guide) curriculum provides STEM problem-solving activities for learners to creatively address community issues, including designing community gardens. Designed for librarians and STEM educators, this curriculum aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS for engineering, grades 3-5) and American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards.
Food educationCommunityHorta Comunitária e Quintais Produtivos da Comunidade Coelho Atikum Jurema e os Desafios da Covid-19 / Community Garden and Productive Backyards of the Coelho Atikum Jurema Community and the Challenges of Covid-19
2021Elijalma Augusto Beserra, Vivianni Marques Leite dos Santos, Eva Mônica Sarmento da Silva, Lúcia Marisy Souza Ribeiro de Oliveira, Hesler Piedade Caffé Filho · ID on line REVISTA DE PSICOLOGIA · Brazil
This descriptive, qualitative, and quantitative research, conducted from September to December 2021, investigated how the community garden of the Coelho Atikum Jurema Community in Brazil was affected by Covid-19. The study identified a series of adversities faced by the community in adapting to the market changes resulting from Covid-19 social interaction rules. These rules directly impacted the community's marketing techniques, posing challenges to economic viability.
Economic viabilityCommunityEconomicsHealthFood sovereignty & justiceMultivariate analysis to support urban horticultural production strategies definition
2021Alline Gomes Lamenha e Silva, Miguel Aloysio Sattler · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Feliz)
This article presents a multivariate analysis to identify areas available for urban food production in Feliz/RS, Brazil. The analysis synergistically considered the served population, family income, and continuous available areas. The results can strategically contribute to identifying suitable areas for urban food production, supporting food security policies, green corridor implementation, or environmental education initiatives.
Food sovereignty & justicePolicyFood educationCommunityA tribute to Evan Weissman from Syracuse Grows
2021Jonnell Robinson, Sarah Brown, Rose Tardiff, Dennis Brady, Jen Pauley, Mable Wilson · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Syracuse)
Syracuse Grows is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization in Syracuse, New York, dedicated to food justice. The organization hosts an annual "Resource Drive" event each April, mobilizing community resources to support over 25 community gardens and 3 urban farms. During this event, compost, mulch, and manure are transported across the city, transforming previously vacant lots into spaces for nourishment and camaraderie.
CommunityFood educationWelfareCompostVisions of Ecotopia
2021Meredith Gaglio · · United States
The "Ecotopia" concept, promoting ecologically and socially responsible American Appropriate Technology (AT), included innovative urban planning like rooftop gardens. However, the expansion and contraction of the intranational Ecotopian network built by former Rainmakers in the mid-to-late 1970s revealed a crisis of purpose within RAIN and signaled a crisis within the AT Movement itself.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceRid-All: green in the ghetto
2021Michele Hunt · · United States (Cleveland)
Rid-All Green Partnership was founded by three childhood friends, Damien Forshe, Keymah Durden, and Randy McShepard, who grew up in Cleveland’s Lee-Miles neighborhood. They provide training in urban farming and environmental stewardship, and Rid-All serves as a regional training center for the Milwaukee-based urban farm “Growing Power.” Alongside its educational programs, Rid-All offers art, entertainment, sports, and community engagement initiatives, and created “The Brink City 'Green in the Ghetto'” comic book to communicate the importance of environmental justice to non-traditional and hard-to-reach audiences, including urban youth.
CommunityFood educationWelfareUrban–rural linkagePROMOVENDO SAÚDE E BEM-ESTAR SOCIAL A PARTIR DE UMA ALIMENTAÇÃO SAUDÁVEL
2021Leonardo Negreiros Monteiro, Joelson de Araújo Delfino · · Brazil
The project “Promoting health and social well-being through healthy eating” was implemented at the Lar para Idosos Tia Angelina elderly home in Porto Nacional, Brazil. Its objective was to improve the quality of life for residents through healthy eating, achieved by implementing a vegetable garden. This initiative also provided Agronomy Engineering students from UNITINS with the opportunity to develop competencies in understanding the importance of quality food and contributed to forming healthier eating habits for the elderly residents.
HealthWelfareElderlyFood educationCommunityBody Size Variation in a Social Sweat Bee, Halictus ligatus (Halictidae, Apoidea), across Urban Environments
2021Rachel A. Brant, Gerardo R. Camilo · Insects · United States (Chicago)
Body size variation in female Halictus ligatus sweat bees collected from Chicago, Detroit, and Saint Louis between May and October 2016 was compared. Head width and intertegular distance were measured in bees collected from community gardens and urban farms. ANCOVA analysis indicated significantly different body size ranges across the three cities, and temperature also had a significant influence on body size.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityNo Place to Grow
2021Kristan Majors · Educational Media Reviews Online · United States
"No Place to Grow" is a 2019 documentary film (27 mins) that captures the story of a longstanding LatinX community garden, its farmers, neighborhood protests, and negotiations with government officials in the United States. The film depicts the challenges faced by the community garden, leaving viewers disheartened. It is recommended for libraries collecting on community gardens and urban agriculture.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEconomicsBarriers, Strategies, and Resources to Thriving School Gardens
2021Amy Hoover, Sarvenaz Vandyousefi, Bonnie Martin, Katie Nikah, Michele Hockett Cooper, Anne Müller, Edwin Marty, Marissa Duswalt-Epstein, Marissa Burgermaster, Lyndsey Waugh, Brie A. Linkenhoker, Jaimie N. Davis · Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · United States (Greater Austin, TX)
This study surveyed 523 teachers and 174 administrators across 109 schools in Greater Austin, TX, to identify factors contributing to thriving school garden programs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that thriving gardens were significantly more likely to have adequate district and administrator support (12 times), funding and community partners (3-fold), active garden committees (4 times), available curriculum, teacher training, and at least 100 annual student users. The findings suggest that strong administrative support is fundamental for successful school gardens.
Food educationCommunityEconomicsPolicyBarriers to Diabetes Management Among Hmong: Patients’ and Physicians’ Perspectives
2021Lue Lao, Moon Chen, Susan L. Stewart, Dao M. Fang · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · United States (California)
This qualitative study explored barriers to diabetes management among Hmong patients in Sacramento, California. Researchers interviewed 21 Hmong patients and 5 physicians at a clinic. Both groups identified culture, education, attitudes, and beliefs as major barriers to diabetes management.
HealthCommunityFood educationBaltimore County Government Education/Entrepreneurship and Marketing- Community Gardens
2021Unwana I. Udoh, Aditya Deshpande, Bhavin Kothari, Cristián Ortíz, Mohit Jaju, Ridwan Ahmed, Chris Pitts, Christian Lopez, Sherry Chen, Hao Jiang, Njeri Warrington, Hunter Petrik, Stephanie Zheng · University Libraries (University of Maryland) · United States (Baltimore County)
This project, conducted in Baltimore County, was divided into two teams: education/entrepreneurship and marketing. The education/entrepreneurship team assessed residents' awareness of existing community gardens, identified reasons for low participation, and developed gardening educational resources. The marketing team focused on determining optimal locations for community gardens through site selection and marketing strategies, including social media campaigns.
CommunityFood educationPolicyAn examination of adaptations of direct marketing channels and practices by Maryland fruit and vegetable farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Grace H. Bachman, Sara N. Lupolt, Mariya Strauss, Ryan David Kennedy, Keeve E. Nachman · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Maryland)
This study investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Maryland fruit and vegetable farmers and their adaptations of direct-to-consumer marketing channels. Interviews with 20 farm owners/managers revealed that Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farmers' markets, and pick-your-own channels provided high stability and financial security. Distribution channels incorporating online marketplaces with prepacked pre-orders were a notable strength for highly adaptive farmers. Common challenges included increased administrative workload, concerns about raising food prices during a crisis, and environmental concerns regarding additional packaging.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityCommunity gardens: contribution to food safety and social inclusion
2021Lucas Sales dos Santos, Milena De Moura Régis, Ana Paula Branco do Nascimento · Revista Nacional de Gerenciamento de Cidades · Brazil (São Paulo)
This study investigated an organically grown community garden in the Previdência Municipal Park in the West Zone of São Paulo City, Brazil, through in-situ observations, interviews, and literature review. The findings indicated benefits for food and nutrition safety, interpersonal involvement, and environmental education. Key challenges identified were social leaderships, technical-scientific knowledge for organic productivity, and planning for project continuity.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthOrganic cycleA regularização fundiária urbana de Marituba – PA e suas contribuições na agricultura urbana do município
2021Ciria Cristane da Rosa · Wamon - Revista dos alunos do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Antropologia Social da Universidade Federal do Amazonas · Brazil
This study aimed to understand how urban land regularization can contribute to urban agriculture in the municipality of Marituba, Pará, Brazil. It focused on two urban land regularization instruments mentioned in municipal decree n.º 300 of April 14, 2020: the concession of real right of use and the surface right. Based on bibliographic and documentary research, analyzing academic works on "quintais" (backyards) where agricultural activities occur, it found nine localities with rural characteristics mostly within Marituba's urban perimeter, with few properties possessing Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) documents. Urban land regularization could help these social subjects remain on their properties and continue their activities.
PolicyCommunityCultivando relações no Arranjo Local da Penha: A mobilização de mulheres a partir das práticas de agricultura urbana na favela
2021Mariana Portilho, Camila Rodrigues, Annelise Caetano Fraga Fernandez · Cidades, comunidades e território/Cidades comunidades e territórios · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
This study describes the formation of Arranjo Local da Penha, a community network created in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro's Penha favela complex, focused on urban agriculture and led by women. Through fieldwork and participant observation, the study analyzed themes of women and agroecology, health, and healthy eating. The network promoted women's empowerment and access to healthy food, but faced limits in the mobilization and development of urban agriculture.
Governance failureCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthWelfareUrban–rural linkageBeyond feeding the city : The multifunctionality of urban farming in Vancouver, BC : [infographic]
2021Noelle Morrow, Megan Kadzirange, V. Smith, Nirusha Thayaal, Ngaire Barraclough · Open Collections · Canada (Vancouver)
This infographic is based on the article "Beyond feeding the city: The multifunctionality of urban farming in Vancouver, BC" by Valley, W., & Wittman, H. (2019). It is an undergraduate student work resulting from a collaboration between the Making Research Accessible initiative (MRAi), researchers, and ASTU 100 students at UBC. The lead author of the original article reviewed the student work, and their revisions were incorporated.
CommunityBiodiversityHealthEconomics