Research & reports

Nadia E. Navarrete-Tindall, Mara S. Aruguete, Yvonne Matthews, Margaret G. Hopper, Veronica Taylor, Jeff Hargrove, Robert Channer · MOspace Institutional Repository (University of Missouri) · United States

A presentation on Lincoln University's Sprouts and Roots Program, combining a farmers market, commercial kitchen, and community garden, was made at the 12th Latinos in the Heartland conference in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2014, and published in the conference's annual proceedings.

Kelsey Knoll, Kerry Mussel, Michelle Radley, Megan Severide, Kalyn Van Horne · cIRcle (University of British Columbia) · Canada

This report from the UBC Food System Project describes a management plan for a rooftop garden — allocating 166 m² to food crop production — planned for the new Student Union Building at the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus, due for completion in 2014. Methods included assessing demand for garden space on campus, setting goals through meetings with stakeholders, reviewing past UBC Food System Project reports, researching the management structures of other community gardens, and developing the plan via cost-benefit analysis. The project found adequate interest in the rooftop garden and set goals including a student focus, peer-to-peer learning, community-building opportunities, promotion of food-system and sustainability issues, enhanced sustainability of the UBC food system, and cost neutrality, and determined that operation would require a coordinator — either a work-study student, a directed-studies student, or a paid position.

Michelle Anami, Doris Cheung, Lindsey Fox, Briony Martens, Delara Salehi, Natalie Van Veelen, Kelsey Wolfe · cIRcle (University of British Columbia) · Canada

A student project report produced under the UBC SEEDS program at the University of British Columbia, Canada, dated 2014. The abstract consists only of a disclaimer stating that it presents a student's findings, opinions, conclusions and recommendations, that it is not an official UBC document, and that it may not reflect current UBC activities. No specific study content, methods or findings are given in the abstract.

Carl McBeath, Jill McDowell, Graham McLeod, Christine M. McMahon, Marnie Melsted, Carrine Thunggawan · cIRcle (University of British Columbia) · Canada

As part of the UBC Food System Project, this student report examines challenges facing the Land and Food Systems Orchard Garden (LFSOG) at the University of British Columbia, reviewing the faculty's vision statements to develop recommendations on garden management, budgeting, funding and resources; it concludes an organized management plan is needed for the garden to successfully expand. The report is a student project under the UBC SEEDS program and is explicitly noted as not an official UBC document, possibly not reflecting the current status of activities.

Roberta Fontanive Miyahira, Lilia Zagoa, Marta Citelli dos Reisa, Josely Correa Kourya · Vigilância Sanitária em Debate · Brazil

A practice report on nutrition education at a municipal school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, delivered through establishing a school garden and running workshops to train food handlers among students and staff. The method spread technical and scientific knowledge while also prompting reflection on food's nutritional, sensory, functional and sanitary dimensions. Based on participant reports and the researchers' empirical analysis, the workshops were judged a creative and efficient approach with low cost and low implementation complexity.

Leandro Pessoa Lucena, Francisco José Kliemann Neto, Fernanda Mariano Massuia, Leonardo Donizete Fanti · RAI revista de administração e inovação · Canada

Against the backdrop of demographic projections that global population will reach 9.4 billion within the next 50 years, requiring an additional area of fertile land roughly the size of Brazil that does not exist on the planet, this study evaluated the economic viability of a Canadian vertical farm model as a sustainable urban-rural food production alternative. Using the NCIC method via a participant-observer approach, the study reported the model as economically viable and sustainable, as well as innovative in flattening production chains.

Ian Schneier, R. C. Payne, Duong Nguyen, Liam Goodale · Digital WPI · United States

At Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in the United States, the Floragenesis project proposed a campus community garden using food waste otherwise neglected from the dining halls to address concerns about freshness and localness. Over time, the composting component was intended to phase out the practice of exporting food waste from the main dining halls. The project focused on construction, productivity, and community garden management, drawing on prior WPI-specific composting feasibility studies. It won Judge's Winner at a 2014 poster presentation.

Andrew Hanks, Brian Wansink, David R. Just · The FASEB Journal · United States (New York City)

In a small northwestern New York community, a pilot study tested whether adding leafy greens harvested from a student-maintained school garden to the lunch salad bar affected salad selection among 370 high school students. On days when pasta was served as the main dish, the percentage of students taking salad rose from 2% to 10% (p<0.001), a 400% increase, when the salad contained garden-grown leafy greens compared with standard salad days.

Vilmar Malacarne, Kely Cristina Enisweler · Educere et Educare · Brazil

A theoretical study (Educere et Educare, 2014), drawing on Delizoicov and Angotti (2000), Bizzo (2002), Ducatti-Silva (2005), and Ovigli and Bertucci (2009), examined how school gardens can support science teaching within early-elementary teacher education in Brazil. The paper argues gardens let teachers address topics such as pesticide contamination, growth cycles, soil characteristics, irrigation, and healthy eating. It concludes that school gardens are a useful tool for teachers, enabling science teaching and learning and deepening environmental education content, though the analysis is presented as a literature-based reflection rather than an empirical outcome measurement.

Alexander Trutko · VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · United States

A case study of the Common Good City Farm's Green Tomorrows program, a community-based urban agriculture and nutrition education program for residents of Washington, D.C., which aims to increase participants' food security, their ability to grow crops in urban locations, and their knowledge of nutrition, food preparation, and food budgeting. The study sought to understand how effectively the program achieved its intended goals and outcomes through semi-structured interviews with program staff and recent regular participants, in order to (1) identify similarities and differences between staff- and participant-stated program goals, (2) determine key program impacts, and (3) generate programmatic recommendations. Participants reported that the program's food distribution increased their consumption of produce, contributing to improved food security, along with greater knowledge of agricultural methods and healthy eating and an improved ability to prepare and shop for healthy food after completing the program. Overall, the Green Tomorrows program's outcomes aligned with staff and participant expectations and were reported to positively influence participants' food security, nutrition knowledge, food preparation, and food-budgeting skills.

Sam E. Wortman, Sarah Taylor Lovell · Journal of Environmental Quality · United States

This review paper characterized the limited state of scientific knowledge regarding abiotic environmental factors threatening the growth of urban agriculture in the United States. It identified challenges influencing urban cropping systems, including soil contamination and remediation, atmospheric pollutants and altered climatic conditions, and water management, sources, and safety. The development of a science-based approach in these areas is noted as essential for the economic and environmental sustainability of urban agriculture.

Christine Moon, Rachel Spinelli · DigitalCommons - CalPoly (California State Polytechnic University) · United States (California)

This project proposes to examine the relationship between school garden initiatives and the socioeconomic status of the community in California, United States. It plans to compare five elementary schools, using Pacheco Elementary School as a model, to explore how socioeconomic factors affect the success of garden projects and their community contributions. The study aims to address these research questions through comparative analysis.

Richard V. Tyson · Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society · United States

Orange County, FL, with a population of 1.2 million, is rapidly urbanizing. In 1998, 20,000 acres of local vegetable production ceased due to concerns about phosphorus-laden water discharges into Lake Apopka, shifting the county from a net exporter to an importer of vegetables. The Urban Farming Extension Education Program aims to identify, demonstrate, and encourage the adoption of sustainable agricultural production methods usable in and around urban centers to leverage local markets.

David Aftandilian, Lyn Dart · Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship · United States

This article presents approaches for using garden-based service-learning to promote food justice, educate undergraduate students, and strengthen campus-community ties. It discusses three interdisciplinary service-learning projects: the Fairmount Community Garden, the North Side Garden Survey, and the Como Community Garden. The authors evaluate the success of their approaches using multiple measures and identify benefits for undergraduates, community partners, communities served by the gardens, educators, and their university.

Naomi Hill · Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) · United States (Chicago)

This study investigated the effects of community gardens in impoverished inner-city African-American neighborhoods in Chicago. The research focused on five themes: how community gardens are created, their mission, motivations for involvement, contributions to individuals and the overall community, and envisioned futures. Results indicated that community gardens are established through collective efforts by community members and maintained through active participation and ongoing recruitment.

Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Jeffery K. Iles · Iowa State University Digital Repository (Iowa State University) · United States

The Iowa State University Department of Horticulture has offered study abroad programs since 1998, with 326 students participating in experiences ranging from 12-day trips to semester-long service learning projects in school gardens. These programs, which include pre-trip preparation, in-country immersion, and post-trip reflection, have proven effective in preparing students to become global citizens.

· Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · United States

This document, "NEBLINE, May 2013," from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, covers various extension topics. It features sections on urban agriculture, food and fitness, home and family living, horticulture, environmental focus, 4-H & youth, community focus, and nutrition education programs. It also includes an extension calendar and news from Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs.

Dina C. Castro, Margaret Samuels, Ann E. Harman · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · United States

A pilot study evaluated the "Growing Healthy Kids Program" (GHK) in a Southern US state from 2008-2010 to prevent childhood obesity among low-income families. Among 95 children aged 2-15, 17% of obese or overweight participants improved their BMI classification, and 100% of normal BMI children maintained their classification. Parental reports indicated a 146% increase in fruit and vegetable availability and increased consumption of fruits (28%) and vegetables (33%) among participating children.

James R. Hollyer · PubMed Central · United States

This article discusses the potential risk of rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in Hawai‘i's local food supply, which can cause eosinophilic meningitis if ingested by humans. While the statistical risk is extremely low compared to other foodborne agents, two individuals in Hawai‘i developed serious eosinophilic meningitis in late 2008 after consuming insufficiently washed local produce. The article highlights the challenge of informing the public about this rare but potentially serious disease, especially amidst efforts to promote local produce and school gardens.

Angela Shaw, Catherine Strohbehn, Linda Naeve · Iowa State University Digital Repository (Iowa State University) · United States

This project addressed the need for food safety training for staff at publicly accessed fruit and vegetable growing venues, such as university farms and school gardens. It developed various media options to educate workers on proper handling of fruits and vegetables to ensure food safety.

Nicholas R. Brown, Kathleen D. Kelsey · Journal of Agricultural Education · United States

This instrumental case study explored the process by which an urban school district created a new, community-focused agricultural education program, addressing a national call for new programs and a lack of literature on urban agricultural education. Five themes emerged that informed a model for originating future urban agricultural education programs: reasoned motivation, hourglass advocacy, intentional innovation, community rejuvenation, and program regeneration. These themes describe the sequence of events that led to the program's creation.

Gail Hansen · EDIS · United States

This 4-page fact sheet presented details to ensure the success of edible ornamental landscape design. Gardens with plants that change considerably with seasons rely more on an organized yet interesting layout, appealing support structures, functional pathways, and colorful containers and planters to provide interest and beauty when plants are not taking center stage. Twelve important ideas to consider when creating a successful edible ornamental garden are outlined.

John Quay, Jayson Seaman · SensePublishers eBooks · United States

In the USA, the specific term 'outdoor education' began to be used as early as the first decade of the 1900s. At this time, outdoor education simply meant a form of education that was not indoor education. Reformers used the hyphenated terms 'out-door' or 'out-of-doors' to communicate a sense of being active in settings other than classrooms.

Austen Moore, Amy Harder, Norma Samuel · EDIS · United States

This 7-page fact sheet provides a guide for individuals or groups interested in starting urban community gardens. Community gardens are used to grow vegetables and flowers, produce food for local consumption or sale, and teach gardening and other skills. The guide includes information on how to identify garden sites, build partnerships, engage community members, and develop a project overview.

Michi Thacker · VCU Scholars Compass (Virginia Commonwealth University) · United States (Cleveland)

The book "Seedfolks" is set in an inner-city vacant lot in Cleveland, Ohio. The narrative unfolds through 13 vignettes, where culturally isolated characters contribute their unique perspectives as the trash-ridden lot gradually transforms into a community garden.