Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
7626 results(278 / 306)
Clasificadores: “Living Off the Trash” and Raising Hogs at the Urban Margin
2010Adam Shiloh Moates · Culture & Agriculture · Colombia
A case study of clasificadores (urban waste sorters) in Montevideo, Uruguay, focusing on the subset known as clasificadores criadores de cerdos (CCdCs) who raise hogs alongside recycling. CCdCs do not fit the standard urban agriculture model since they do not garden but instead feed collected organic refuse to hogs. Raising hogs in the irregular settlements where CCdCs live is illegal, and very little of the hog meat they produce is consumed by the CCdCs themselves; out-of-town hog farmers transport their "bootleg," trash-fed hogs to legitimate markets to close the legal loop for what remains a clandestine production system. Although clasificadores have recently organized cooperatives and a labor union, the hog-raising activity itself remains illegal and dependent on this informal, off-book market channel.
Economic viabilityEconomicsCommunityDistance to the city and performance of food chains in Antananarivo, Madagascar
2010Marie Hélène Dabat, Romaine Ramananarivo, Evelyne Ravoniarisoa Faramalala, Tovohery Ramahaimandimbisoa, Christine Aubry · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · Madagascar
Little was known about the quantitative importance of urban agriculture in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, but recent studies on supply chains for commodities including rice, tomato, cauliflower, and leafy vegetables provide insight into agriculture's contribution to the capital's food supply and the comparative advantage that urban locations offer for these chains.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsCultivating the City and Its Citizens: The Creation of Corporation Allotments in York
2010Ross Wilson · The International Journal of Regional and Local Studies · United Kingdom
The year 2008 marked the centenary of the UK's 1908 Small Holdings and Allotments Act, which significantly shaped the landscape of urban and rural Britain by placing a new obligation on local authorities to provide allotment gardens where residents wanted them. This article focuses on the creation of corporation-owned and -operated allotment gardens in York in the early twentieth century, examining how the era's debates over poor housing, unemployment and the condition of the working classes were reflected through the allotment movement. Allotment gardens represented an important resource for residents of the city's deprived areas, while local politicians and councillors viewed the sites as significant tools for social reform.
CommunityPolicyStudy on the microclimate condition along a green pedestrian canyon in Singapore
2010Nyuk Hien Wong, Steve Kardinal Jusuf · Architectural Science Review · Asia
A study measured microclimate conditions and thermal effects along two pedestrian canyons with different greenery and building-distribution conditions in Singapore, addressing the previously unexamined cooling effects of different green canyon forms in the tropics. Results showed cooling effects inside the canyons varied with vegetation cover and the shading provided by trees and buildings, and that planting vegetation within a canyon is an effective passive measure for improving microclimate. Calculated mean radiant temperature and physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) further showed that mature trees provide pedestrian thermal comfort through their shading capacity.
CommunityThe Potential of Agricultural Land Management by the User Organization of the Allotment Gardens in Peri-urban Area: A Case of Allotment Gardens for Kitchen Garbage Recycling, Kitamoto City
2010Hideharu KURITA, Tokuji Yamamoto, Tetsushi Shigeoka · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan
A case study of an allotment garden for kitchen garbage recycling in Kitamoto City, Japan, examines the potential for agricultural land management by user organizations of allotment gardens in peri-urban areas. Analyzing the management system of an allotment garden with a garden user organization, the study finds that such organizations can potentially play a role in managing agricultural land in peri-urban settings, and that garden user organizations and their networks contribute to resolving problems related to urban residents' use of agricultural land.
CommunityCompostOrganic cyclePeri-urban agricultureAgricultura urbana: elementos valorativos sobre su sostenibilidad
2010Cantor, Kelly-M · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Colombia (Bogotá)
This study analyzed urban agriculture practiced by forcibly displaced residents and by vulnerable populations living in poverty in southern Bogotá and the Soacha locality, Colombia, using a livelihoods approach and drawing on 20 local actors and public/private institutions that had run urban agriculture programs as its information source. It found that urban agriculture carries symbolic value as a livelihood and occupational alternative, framed around collective wellbeing beyond monetary value, and reflects a struggle by peasant identity to survive within city life—but concluded that it is not an integrally sustainable activity.
Economic viabilityCommunityEconomicsPolicyEl "Manifiesto Verde" de Leberecht Migge
2009de Cárdenas Maestre I. · Cuaderno de Notas, no. 12, 119-134 · Germany
A Spanish-language study of Migge's 1919 'Green Manifesto', examining his utopian call for self-sufficiency and self-governance through small, interconnected rural-urban groups he termed Stadtland or Landstadt.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyUrban Governance for Food Security: The Alternative Food System in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2009Rocha C., Lessa I. · International Planning Studies 14(4):389-400 · Brazil
Describes the distinct food security governance developed by Belo Horizonte (2.5 million people), marked by comprehensive programs, urban/rural focus, flexibility, and commitment to social justice and equitable food access.
PolicyWelfareCommunityCan green roofs provide habitat for urban bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)?
2009Colla S.R., Willis E., Packer L. · Cities and the Environment (CATE), 2(1):4 · Canada (Toronto area)
A foundational study comparing bee diversity and abundance on green roofs and ground-level sites near Toronto. With suitable plants and management, green roofs can host bee communities comparable to ground habitats, discussing implications for urban pollinator conservation and rooftop agriculture.
PollinatorsBiodiversityCommunityCuban Home Gardens and Their Role in Social–Ecological Resilience
2009Buchmann C. · Human Ecology · Cuba (Trinidad de Cuba)
Using ethnobotanical fieldwork in Trinidad de Cuba, this study shows how home gardens serve as the most adaptable local land resource, with garden composition and management adapting in response to major events such as the Soviet collapse, bolstering household food security and social-ecological resilience.
BiodiversityCommunityHeirloom & landraceWelfareUrban agriculture and gender in Carapongo, Lima, Peru
2009Arce B., Prain G., Maldonado L. · Women Feeding Cities: Mainstreaming Gender in Urban Agriculture and Food Security (Practical Action Publishing), Chapter 13 · Peru (Lima)
Examines land tenure insecurity and gender constraints among periurban farmers in Carapongo, Lima, showing that women's time burdens limit participation in horticulture field schools. Based on a baseline survey of 125 producers conducted through the CGIAR Urban Harvest initiative.
CommunityWelfarePolicyCommunity Gardening and Community Development: Individual, Social and Community Benefits of a Community Conservation Program
2009· Journal of Community Practice · USA
A case study of a community gardening/conservation program analyzing the individual, social, and community-level benefits generated through participation in the program's activities.
CommunityWelfareCultivating health and wellbeing: members' perceptions of the health benefits of a Port Melbourne community garden
2009· Leisure Studies · Port Melbourne, Australia
Ten members of a community garden in Port Melbourne, Australia were interviewed with semi-structured questions exploring their perceptions of the health and wellbeing benefits of participation.
HealthCommunityBumble Bee Abundance in New York City Community Gardens: Implications for Urban Agriculture
2009Kevin C. Matteson, Gail Langellotto · Cities and the Environment · United States (New York City)
In 2005, a study compiled a list of crop plants in 19 New York City community gardens, classifying them by bee pollination dependence. Using mark-recapture methods, the abundance of the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) was estimated. Wild populations of B. impatiens were found to be abundant in New York City community gardens, where it is the most prevalent native bee species and visits various crop flowers.
PollinatorsBiodiversityCommunityCommunity Gardens as Contexts for Science, Stewardship, and Civic Action Learning
2009Marianne E. Krasny, Keith G. Tidball · Cities and the Environment · Global
This paper discusses community gardens as heterogeneous environments that integrate environmental restoration, community activism, social interactions, cultural expression, and food security. They provide a context for learning that addresses multiple societal goals, including fostering a scientifically literate populace, practicing environmental stewardship, and participating in civic life. Using preliminary evidence from the Garden Mosaics intergenerational education program, the study suggests the potential for community gardens to foster multiple types of learning.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceFactors influencing the concentration of heavy metals in soils of allotment gardens in the city of Wroclaw, Poland
2009Cezary Kabała, T. Chodak, L. Szerszeń, Anna Karczewska, Katarzyna Szopka, Urszula Fratczak · Fresenius environmental bulletin · Poland (Wroclaw)
An analysis of 180 allotment garden soils in Wroclaw, Poland, found that concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn (12.5-659 mg Pb kg-1, 38.1-2103 mg Zn kg-1, 12.9-595 mg Cu kg-1) were influenced by industrial pollution sources, organic matter, pH, and macronutrients. Soils in gardens on former housing or industrial areas had significantly higher metal concentrations. Up to 35% of soils in the city zone were excessively contaminated, making them unsuitable for vegetable and fruit production and requiring reclamation.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityThe Impact of Community Gardens on Numbers of Property Crimes in Urban Houston
2009M.R. Gorham, Tina M. Waliczek, Amy Snelgrove, Jayne M. Zajicek · HortTechnology · United States (Houston)
A pilot study in Houston, Texas, investigated the impact of 11 established community gardens on property crime numbers using 2005 crime data. Statistical comparisons between community garden areas and randomly selected city areas showed no statistically significant differences in the mean number of crime occurrences. The presence of a community garden was not found to be a predictor of a lower crime rate for a neighborhood.
Limited or null effectCommunityHealthThe Productive Garden: An experience in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2009Bruno Martins Dala Paula, Ivana Cristina Lovo, José Delázaro Filho · Urban Agriculture Magazine · Brazil (Belo Horizonte)
This project in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, involved seven households sharing a community garden. Participating families collected household organic waste, with five families collecting 5 kg every 8-10 days. From March 25 to September 25, a total of 420 kg of organic waste was collected and used for collective compost production, which was then distributed to all garden members.
CommunityCompostOrganic cycleDIYOral History Interview: Julie Schneider (1166)
2009Emma Schroeder, Julie Schneider · · United States (Eagle Heights)
Julie Schneider's 2009 interview discusses her five years at the Eagle Heights Community Garden. She described vegetables grown, organic gardening, rules and restrictions, and tensions with the university, as well as changes in the community gardens since the early 1990s. This interview was conducted for a Master's thesis on the Eagle Heights Community Gardens.
Governance failureCommunityOrganic cyclePolicyParchi Agrari Periurbani: una nuova proposta di paesaggio
2009Maria Gabriella Errico · · Europe
This study analyzed theories and concepts intertwining human activity with economic, social, scientific, and political aspects, driven by interest in solutions for maintaining agricultural landscapes in peri-urban areas. It investigated the landscape characteristics of territories between city and countryside that retain cultural historical signs. By synthesizing key challenges of peri-urban areas, the research aimed to identify design strategies for active conservation and transformation through agricultural park projects. The study proceeded to recognize the characteristics and critical issues of the peri-urban agricultural landscape.
Peri-urban agriculturePolicyCommunityThe Learning Garden: Ecology, Teaching, and Transformation
2009Veronica Gaylie · · Global
This book chronicles the establishment of a campus learning garden involving student teachers and environmental education students. Despite starting with no funding, the project resulted in a transformation of attitudes towards nature, community, and the learning process. The book examines this process through metaphors of the garden as environment, community, and transformation, bridging theory and practice for ecology-centered teaching.
Food educationCommunityBiodiversityHISTORICAL CHANGE OF THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY GARDEN AND ITS PUBLICNESS
2009Yutaka Kudo · Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ) · Japan
This research examines the development processes of community gardens in Japan and discusses their "publicness" as public spaces. Japanese community gardens were introduced before WWII as a form of urban open space, similar to Kleingarten in Germany and Allotment in England. In the postwar period, they expanded quantitatively through the practical use of urban unused farmland, and are now provided from the perspective of urban environment and rural development. The publicness of community gardens in Japan has been intentionally shaped by various actors throughout their historical transition.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageMulticultural School Gardens: Creating Engaging Garden Spaces in Learning about Language, Culture, and Environment.
2009Amy Cutter‐Mackenzie · ePublications@SCU (Southern Cross University) · Australia
An Australian environmental education non-profit implemented the "Multicultural Schools Gardens" program in disadvantaged schools, using food gardening to teach culture, English as a Second Language, and environment. A combined methods research approach, including student self-research, interviews, and observations, was used to assess learning experiences. At one culturally diverse school with many migrant and refugee families, the program fostered a strong sense of belonging among students and provided opportunities for English language learning and environmental connection.
Food educationCommunityHealthWelfareMulti-Stakeholder Processes for Managing Wastewater Use in Agriculture
2009Alexandra Evans, Liqa Raschid-Sally, Olufunke Cofie · · Global
This chapter presents three case studies in which multi-stakeholder processes were used to improve wastewater management for urban agriculture. Although differences were observed, there were several cross-cutting lessons. A critical factor is the starting point, including an agreed definition of the problem to be addressed, negotiated goals, and a management structure acceptable to all stakeholders. When multi-stakeholder processes are externally initiated, it is essential that project priorities are commensurate with local priorities.
PolicyCommunityHealthOrganic cyclePerfil socioeconômico de feirantes brasileiros e bolivianos que comercializam hortaliças folhosas em feiras-livres no município fronteiriço Corumbá-Brasil/Bolívia
2009Mirane dos Santos Costa, Marivaine da Silva Brasil, Alberto Feiden, Adalgiza Inês Campolim · · Brazil/Bolivia
An exploratory study was conducted in the border cities of Corumbá, Brazil, and Puerto Quijarro/Puerto Suarez, Bolivia, to investigate the socioeconomic profile of Brazilian and Bolivian sellers of leafy vegetables at street fairs and their relations with urban farmers. The study aimed to identify the origin, production system of leafy vegetables, and the socioeconomic characteristics of these fair sellers and farmers, with preliminary results presented.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceCommunity