Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
9077 results(211 / 364)
Integration of Autonomous Wireless Sensor Networks in Academic School Gardens
2018Peio López-Iturri, Mikel Celaya-Echarri, Leyre Azpilicueta, Erik Aguirre, José Javier Astráin, Jesús Villadangos, Francisco Falcone · Sensors · Global
An autonomous Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) system combined with MySchoolGardenApp was deployed in an orchard in a primary schoolyard for integration into educational activities. Built with EnOcean's energy harvesting modules, the system provides students with parameter observation, data analysis, and processing capabilities. Preliminary trials demonstrated the platform's feasibility as an educational resource in schools, applicable to natural science course content, technological skill development, and extending monitoring capabilities.
Digital agricultureFood educationA PROBLEM-BASED APPROACH OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE WITHIN SHORT FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS BASED ON A WESTERN TRANSDANUBIAN SURVEY
2018Károly Kacz, Ádám Varga · Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural and Agribusiness Economists · Europe
A survey in the Western Transdanubia region investigated major problems in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) within short food supply chains, involving farmer organizations and consumers. The analysis identified the insufficient market power of CSA organizations as the most influential factor. This finding suggests a significant constraint on the effectiveness of CSA models in the region.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceNutrition
2018G. R. SCHMIDT · · Global
This chapter discusses the role of urban and community-supported agriculture (CSA) in developed countries, noting that these initiatives, while struggling, contribute to nutrition, personal agency, values, and green education. It also addresses the less immediate connections between wild regional resources, wild biodiversity, and their potential for agricultural innovation and nutrition.
CSA & TeikeiHealthFood educationCommunityUrban Agriculture: A Regenerative Urban Development Practice to Decrease the Ecological Footprints of Cities
2018Rowaida Rashed · Environmental Science & Sustainable Development · Global
This paper explores urban agriculture as a regenerative urban development practice aimed at decreasing the ecological footprints of cities. It defines environmental problems, explains the concept of the ecological footprint, and demonstrates how urban agriculture can be integrated into cities to improve environmental conditions and reduce ecological footprints. Urban agriculture is highlighted as one of the most effective regenerative practices.
Climate changeOrganic cycleBiodiversityWater Use Behavior, Learning, and Adaptation to Future Change in Urban Gardens
2018Monika Egerer, Brenda B. Lin, Stacy M. Philpott · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · United States (California)
This citizen science study in the California Central Coast examined water use, vegetation, and soil management in urban gardens. Water use varied by gardener and was positively related to mulching and crop cover. Gardeners expressing high concern for drought and water conservation paradoxically tended to use more water, while those in gardens with more rules used less.
Climate changeCommunityDIYThe fate of compost-derived phosphorus in urban gardens
2018Gaston E. Small, Paliza Shrestha, Adam D. Kay · International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics · Global
Dissolved phosphorus (PO4 3-) and nitrogen (NO3- & NH4+) losses in leachate from experimental raised-bed garden plots were measured. Plots receiving cow manure compost showed high PO4 3- concentrations (5-11 mg/L), while municipal organics compost plots had concentrations an order of magnitude lower (0.5-1.2 mg/L), and no-compost plots had 0.3 mg/L. Phosphorus lost through leachate and harvest accounted for only 1-10% of total applied phosphorus, indicating soil build-up was the dominant fate. This study illustrates a potential trade-off in urban agriculture between crop production and efficient phosphorus recycling from urban food waste.
Environmental trade-offsCompostOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageAgriculture urbaine et périurbaine (AUP) et économie des ménages agri-urbains à Dakar (Sénégal)
2018Ayinde BA, Nicola Cantoreggi · International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology · Senegal (Dakar)
This study focused on the commercial dimension of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in the Dakar region, Senegal, involving 214 market gardeners across three production areas. Results showed that UPA, specifically urban market gardening, constitutes a full-fledged commercial activity with monetary income significantly higher than Senegal's minimum wage. This almost exclusively commercial orientation allows agri-urban households to cover their food and non-food expenses inherent in urban living.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureMāori women leading local sustainable food systems
2018Karyn Stein, Miranda Mirosa, Lynette Carter · AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples · New Zealand
This 3-year study explored how Māori women in Aotearoa (New Zealand) define their own food system and the values of women managing community food initiatives. Using participatory and kaupapa Māori research methodologies, it involved four case studies of women managing community food initiatives across the North and South Islands. The article discusses how community gardens and farms counteract food poverty by promoting local food access and highlights the essential role Indigenous women play in addressing food security issues through solutions based on their knowledge and Māori cultural values.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareAGRICULTURA URBANA E PERIURBANA E OS CONFLITOS DA ESPECULAÇÃO IMOBILIÁRIA EM ALFENAS-MG
2018Rodrigo Clemente GOIS, Flamarion Dutra Alves, Evânio dos Santos Branquinho · Geografia (Rio Claro) · Brazil (Alfenas)
This article aims to characterize urban and peri-urban agricultural activities in Alfenas, Brazil, and analyze the encroachment of real estate speculation on these properties. It notes that Alfenas has seen an increase in residential developments occupying areas previously used for livestock and agriculture. The study suggests organic farming as a viable alternative to mitigate socio-environmental problems arising from this encroachment.
Economic viabilityUrban–rural linkageEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceLa huerta escolar como estrategia pedagógica para fortalecer el aprendizaje
2018Yhonys Zambrano Quintero · Cultura Educación y Sociedad · Colombia (Bogotá)
This article is a qualitative descriptive study focusing on fifth-grade students at Oscar Pisciotti Numa IED in Colombia. It found that the school garden is a positive teaching-learning strategy, enabling students to work on different class topics and acquire better learning.
Food educationCommunityWhy Garden? Personal and Abiding Motivations for Community Gardening in New York City
2018Nancy 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.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareCommunity Gardening: Basic Psychological Needs as Mechanisms to Enhance Individual and Community Well-Being
2018Eleanor Quested, Cecilie Thøgersen‐Ntoumani, Hannah Uren, Sarah J. Hardcastle, Richard M. Ryan · Ecopsychology · Global
This study explored how community gardens enhance individual and community well-being, applying self-determination theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 5 experienced and 10 aspiring community gardeners. Findings suggest that the satisfaction of community-level needs, experienced through participation in community gardens, may precede the enhancement of individual and community well-being.
CommunityHealthPemahamam siswa SMP Pusaka Desa Sindang Jaya, Kecamatan Ciranjang, Kabupaten Cianjur tentang pertanian hidroponik
2018Marina Silalahi, Lauresius Sihotang, Sunarto Sunarto, Fajar Adinugraha, Adisti Ratna Puri · · Indonesia (Cianjur)
A survey was conducted among 21 students at Pusaka Junior High School in Cianjur, Indonesia, to assess their understanding of hydroponic farming. Students knew the definition, methods, maintenance, and production of hydroponic plants, but literally interpreted that media like sand could not be used. While many students had experience with hydroponic farming, they claimed it was more expensive than conventional farming.
Economic viabilityFood educationDIYEconomicsUrban Gardening Treibhaus Luzern: Anbau Eines Gemüsegartens Im Jugendkulturhaus Treibhaus Luzern: Projektbericht
2018Romana Brunner · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Switzerland (Luzern)
This report documents an urban gardening project implemented at Jugendkulturhaus Treibhaus Luzern from October 2016 to November 2017. The project's main goal was to participatively involve youth and young adults in urban gardening, fostering their identification with and appropriation of the space. The report details the project's planning, execution, organization, and the difficulties and insights gained during its implementation.
CommunityFood educationDIYWelcome to 'agriburbia': Urban farming and our future
2018Eric Love · Wildlife in Australia · Global
This paper discusses the fundamental importance of water and food for survival, with Eric Love from CORE noting global stress due to climatic fluctuations. It poses the question of whether urban agriculture could hold the key to ensuring future water and food security.
Food sovereignty & justiceClimate changeUrban–rural linkageVorstellung des Projekts "Ernte Deine Stadt"
2018Jens A. Geißler, Tim Schümann · · Germany (Bad Oldesloe)
The "Ernte deine Stadt" project series in Bad Oldesloe, Germany, combines civic engagement platforms with makerspace and community building ideas, focusing on local sustainability, particularly urban gardening and green libraries. Due to the project's success, the Bad Oldesloe City Library won the IFLA Green Library Award in 2017.
CommunityDIYFood educationA sustainable food-system?
2018Annie Svensson · · Sweden
This research investigated the economic sustainability of 14 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in Sweden through interviews. The study found that Swedish CSA farms had difficulties covering labor costs and suffered from inefficiency, indicating weak economic sustainability. The study did not identify specific approaches or business models that were more conducive to higher profitability.
Economic viabilityCSA & TeikeiEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityBiochar Application for Sustainable Soil Quality
2018Subhadip Ghosh, Lai Fern Ow, Mohamed Lokman Mohd Yusof · · Singapore
A short-term experiment in an urban park in northern Singapore investigated biochar's effects on urban horticulture. Biochar, alone or with compost, was mixed with loamy soil, and Dissotisrotundifolia was planted under various treatments. Soil analysis revealed significant improvements in soil nutrient status and organic matter content with organic amendments, especially those containing biochar, though plant physiological characteristics showed no significant differences. The study suggests biochar as a potential soil amendment for perennial ground cover in Singapore's tropical climate.
Organic cycleBiodiversityCommunityHORTA COMUNITÁRIA NA COMUNIDADE INDIGENA DO GUARIBA
2018Clétina Inês de Brito Rodrigues, Rafael Pereira Barros, Iraci Fideles, João Victor de Brito Rodrigues, Genilson Tabosa Wanderley, Glicia Luiza nunes · Fórum de Integração Ensino, Pesquisa, Extensão e Inovação Tecnológica do IFRR - e-ISSN 2447-1208 · Brazil
This project aimed to encourage the Guariba indigenous community in Brazil to produce vegetables through a community garden, promoting food access and security, work opportunities, and income generation. Activities included environmental and social education, entrepreneurship, and healthy eating practices. The project involved over 20 participants and resulted in the construction of a community garden and training for community members and student interns.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsFood educationThe school culture of school gardens in Sicily. Textual and discourse analysis on the learning objectives
2018Giuseppe Carmelo Pillera · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Italy (Sicily)
This article analyzes the school culture of school gardens in Sicily, examining how they are conceived, the value assigned by the teaching community, and expected outcomes. Data from 49 surveyed schools, part of a regional mapping of educational projects on soil cultivation, were analyzed using quantitative textual analysis. The study interprets meanings of key concepts and their relationships based on recurrent morphemes and their contexts.
Food educationCommunityEvaluation of effect of human urine fertilizer in the cultivation of corn in Camagüey
2018Dania de la Caridad González Gort, Arelys Valido Tomés, Roberto Vázquez Montes de · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba (Camagüey)
A study on "The New Hope" farm in Camagüey, Cuba, evaluated human urine as a fertilizer for corn cultivation under family farming conditions. Family-collected human urine, stored for six months and applied in dilution, was compared to a mineral fertilizer and an unfertilized control using a randomized block design with 18 sample plants per treatment. Results showed that human urine yielded equivalent results to mineral fertilization, with no significant differences, but both differed from the unfertilized treatment, concluding that urine is an economic alternative for family farming.
Organic cycleDIYEconomicsTrace Metal(oid) Accumulation in Edible Crops and Poplar Cuttings Grown on Dredged Sediment Enriched Soil
2018Mohamad Assad, Michel Chalot, Fabienne Tatin‐Froux, Valérie Bert, Julien Parelle · Journal of Environmental Quality · Global
This study investigated element transfer in edible crops (cucumber, pepper, cabbage, lettuce) and poplar (Skado cultivar) grown on soils contaminated with sediments dredged from water canals in the 1960s, aiming to develop a biomonitor. The results showed accumulation of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in the edible parts of crops, particularly leafy vegetables, indicating that Cd could be ingested in amounts reaching the tolerable daily intake (TDI) in this context. No accumulation of lead (Pb) was detected.
Contamination & food safetyHealthDefining alternative food networks: A systematic literature review.
2018Rosario Michel‐Villarreal, Martin Hingley, Ilenia Bregoli · Lincoln Repository (University of Lincoln) · Global
This systematic literature review aims to clarify the concept of Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) by conducting a thematic analysis of academic definitions. The literature indicates a lack of clarity regarding AFNs, which are often defined by what they are not, rather than what they are. The study seeks to address this knowledge gap and contribute to theory and empirical development.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFunctionality Importance and Expectation Analysis for the Planning Direction Establishment of Community Gardens
2018Na Ra Jeong, Seung Won Han, Kwang Jin Kim, Jung Nam Suh, Ji Hye Yoon · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global
This study surveyed 340 urban and non-metropolitan residents from October 7-10, 2016, to understand their perceptions and expectations of community gardens. The survey found that residents generally agree on the necessity of community gardens, particularly those with gardening experience, and expect them to provide comfort, aesthetic functions, and personal benefits like health promotion, as well as public benefits such as amenity and community vitalization. Residents also showed strong willingness to participate in planning, construction, and management.
CommunityHealthPolicyOnde muitos chamam de lixo a gente chama de reciclagem
2018Janaina Henrique dos Santos, Júlio César Maestri · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This work presents the experience of reapplying the "Revolution of the Baldinhos" Social Technology, which involves managing organic residues and urban agriculture, in Macaiba-RN, Brazil. The project focuses on women collecting household organic waste to produce thermophilic static compost for urban food production and gardening. This method, originating from the UFSC Method, was applied through the Urban Housing Project with Social Technology (MUTS), supported by AACC/RN and Banco do Brasil Foundation, marking its first national application.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityDIY