Research & reports

Karly S. Geller, Margaret J. Melbye, Richard R. Rosenkranz, Candice A. Shoemaker, David A. Dzewaltowski · HortTechnology · Global

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a scale measuring self-efficacy and proxy efficacy for gardening and related health behaviors in elementary-aged children. Data were drawn from Project PLANTS, an after-school randomized controlled trial focused on obesity prevention through garden clubs. Participants included 969 fourth and fifth-grade students from eight elementary schools. The measurement model, comprising five constructs, demonstrated good factorial validity and unbiased generalizability across gender, grade level, and BMI subgroups.

Ingrid Jahrl, Otto Schmid · Organic Eprints (International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems, and Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) · Switzerland

In Zurich, Switzerland, urban agriculture policies have evolved towards fulfilling multiple functions. This multifunctional approach aims to provide diverse services for city dwellers, fostering biodiversity, offering attractive recreational landscapes, and creating educational opportunities, with food production being a part but not the main goal. The city administration has implemented various support mechanisms to ensure the concept's implementation and maintenance.

Abdullah Ambusaidi, Rashid Al‐Yahyai, Neil Taylor · Econstor (Econstor) · Oman

A school gardening project in Oman, funded by the Oman Research Council, aims to improve educational outcomes in the short term and dietary outcomes in the longer term, addressing the country's rising lifestyle diseases. The article reports on the project's rationale, conceptualization, and design, noting its potential for expansion to more schools and long-term economic benefits through local food production.

Christine Brown-Paul, Sam Ross · Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses · Australia

A Sydney-based company supplies hydroponics products and services to a diverse range of clients in Australia, including home growers, market gardeners, commercial growers, schools, and community gardens. This broad client base provides a competitive advantage in the current market.

Bongajum Simplice Ngoran, Suinyuy Derrick Ngoran · Journals & Books Hosting (International Knowledge Sharing Platform) · Cameroon (Bamenda)

This article examines the socioeconomic implications of urban agriculture in Bamenda, Cameroon. It found that urban agriculture has improved living conditions, providing employment to about 11% of the working population and reducing food expenses for civil servants. However, urban agriculture in Bamenda lags behind other cities due to rudimentary tools, suggesting a need for advanced technology and improved seedlings.

Melinda VanDevelder, Kierstyn Johnson, Alicia R. Thompson · · Global

This chapter explores the versatility of school and community gardens, which have historical roots in social justice. It investigates multiple theories embracing critical and ecological pedagogies in urban communities, schools, and neighborhoods. The driving forces behind this work include democratic movements for food security, addressing food deserts, and socioeconomic sustainability through gardening programs.

Juan Sebastián Muñoz Castiblanco, José Francisco Landinez Cardona · · Colombia (Bogotá)

In the Manantial and Triangulo Alto neighborhoods of Bogotá, serious problems in solid waste management necessitate solutions involving the community and public sanitation companies. This project proposes diagnosing the current state of waste and, based on the findings, implementing an environmental education campaign with an emphasis on urban agriculture and vermiculture. It also aims to improve community collection centers and promote the use of various household materials.

Clare E. Collins, Rosalina Richards, Anthony I. Reeder, Andrew Gray · Health Promotion Journal of Australia · New Zealand

To investigate the implementation of edible gardens in New Zealand primary and secondary schools, a questionnaire was mailed to principals from 764 schools, with 491 responding (64.3% response rate). Among responding schools, 52.9% currently had an edible garden, with most started in the previous two years. Gardens were integrated into curriculum subjects, cooking lessons, recipes, and messages promoting increased fruit and vegetable consumption, with vegetables, herbs, and tree fruit commonly grown.

Michael L. Pennell · Community Literacy Journal · Global

This abstract introduces a special issue of the Community Literacy Journal on community food literacies, highlighting the intertwined relationship between food and literacy. It notes that both are in "revolutionary" stages, with food systems re-localizing through farmers’ markets, CSAs, and community gardens. The issue presents various perspectives on community food literacies, responding to a call for service-learning practitioners and literacy workers to address these expanding relationships.

Yong Sock Chang · · Global

A study discussing an ecology awareness art project using school gardens, plants and environments. Noting that a recent survey found almost 50% of children cited ecological problems as the world's biggest problem, it draws on frameworks including Freire's critical pedagogy, Dewey's "art as experience," and the concept of haptic, multi-sensory perception, to propose an art education project through which children actively engage with ecological awareness and solutions, presenting various such ecology art education projects using school gardens, plants and environments.

Daniel Augusto Hernández Penagos, María Camila Mateus Jaime, Nilton Arley Parra Peña · · Colombia (Bogotá)

A report on the "Agroecology and Conscious Consumption" project at the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Bogotá campus, aimed at engaging the university community in reflection on Colombia's agrarian issues alongside consumption awareness and food security, through the practice of urban agriculture with an agroecological approach. Using a Participatory Action Research methodology, the project raised awareness of the concepts and built knowledge through talks and fieldwork, and ultimately evaluated the intervention process through a statistical survey and management indicators.

Khoury C.K., Bjorkman A.D., Dempewolf H., Ramirez-Villegas J., Guarino L., Struik P.C. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) · Global

Shows national diets grew about 36% more similar over five decades, increasingly reliant on a few major crops, with implications for food security, nutrition, and the value of conserving crop diversity.

Lattuca A.L., Terrile R.H., Sadagorsky C. · Hábitat y Sociedad · Argentina (Rosario)

Documents Rosario's municipal Urban Agriculture Programme (PAU), launched in 2002, which grew to over 800 community farming projects on vacant land to address food insecurity and generate income for marginalized residents, with 65% of participants being women.

Kubi Ackerman, Michael Conard, Patricia J. Culligan · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Global

This multi-year study by the Urban Design Laboratory at the Earth Institute assessed urban agriculture in New York City (NYC). It presented metrics on potential growing capacity, surveyed NYC urban farmers on production challenges, and monitored a commercial rooftop farm in Brooklyn. The study aimed to provide insight into urban agriculture's role in creating sustainable food systems for NYC and other cities.

Jürgen H. Breuste, Martina Artmann · Journal of Urban Planning and Development · Austria (Salzburg)

This study investigated how urban allotment gardens contribute to ecosystem services in Salzburg, Austria. A survey was conducted with 156 allotment gardeners across four allotment associations, focusing on the role of allotment gardens in recreation, food production, nature experience, ecological gardening, and environmental behavior. The results indicated the importance of allotment gardens for recreation and nature experience, alongside a declining importance of traditional food production. An increasing interest in ecological gardening and general environmental awareness among allotment gardeners was also observed.

Art McCabe · International journal of child health and human development · Global

This paper discusses how reclaiming abandoned properties and vacant lots in inner-city areas and converting them into community gardens or pocket parks can address urban health challenges and youth crime. It suggests that these conversions can reduce health disparities, eliminate blight, stabilize neighborhoods, and foster community engagement. The paper highlights that community gardens can serve as a cost-effective, multi-purpose urban asset, meeting the demand for such spaces, especially among immigrant populations.

Daniel Felipe de Oliveira Gentil, Haroldo Silva Rodrigues, Reina Auxiliadora Gonçalves de Souza · Extensão Rural · Global

This paper describes the development of a didactic domino game focused on vegetables for use in school gardens. The process involved creating the game, defining its rules, and preparing domino pieces featuring leafy and fruiting vegetables. The game successfully captured children's interest, and its rules functioned properly, resulting in a light, simple, practical, and aesthetically pleasing educational tool.

Neda Tiraieyari, Azimi Hamzah · Modern Applied Science · Malaysia

University Putra Malaysia (UPM) introduces urban agriculture programs for urban residents and trains student volunteers to support program implementation. This paper reviews existing literature on factors predicting voluntary participation among young students and proposes a conceptual model for program developers to promote youth voluntary participation. Research is recommended to predict factors influencing UPM students' voluntary participation in the urban agriculture program, and further research is also recommended to explore how program planners can overcome potential barriers to student participation.

Aoife McCormack · eSource (Dublin Business School) · Ireland (Dublin)

This qualitative study used in-depth interviews with professionals to identify key success factors and potential obstacles for organic gardening projects in primary schools. Findings highlighted the benefits of school gardens, including their observable impact on children's social, food, and environmental development, and their integration with the curriculum. The study also indicated that funding and resource limitations are areas requiring further research to improve the efficacy of such initiatives.

Han Li-yin · · Global

This paper analyzes classic cases of biodiversity design in foreign urban gardens, including New York urban farming gardens and Paris flower and plant gardens. It summarizes four different types of biodiversity design methods for urban gardens. The paper proposes a biodiversity design framework for urban gardens, aiming to enhance biodiversity and improve the quality and spatial effects of urban garden landscapes.

M. Pogačnik, Dragan Žnidarčić, Jelka Strgar · Archives of Biological Sciences · Global

This study, which has been retracted, compared experiential instruction in a school garden with traditional classroom instruction for 360 biotechnical education students aged 15 to 18. The original findings indicated that experiential instruction resulted in significantly better achievement scores in both knowing and applying cognitive domains.

Jim Bird · Journal of Food Science Education · Global

This column aims to highlight innovative publications and websites in food science education and allied topics. An article featured discusses garden-based service-learning projects (Fairmount Community Garden, North Side Garden Survey, Como Community Garden) that aim for food justice, better undergraduate education, and strengthened campus-community ties. It also briefly mentions a qualitative case study conducted at four schools, evaluating the effects of free school meal interventions on pupils' learning over 20 weeks.

Claire McDonnell · · Ireland (Dublin)

This case study examined community-based learning and research projects at Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), including soil analysis in a community garden, from 2007 onwards. Analyzing student reflective accounts, questionnaires, and assessment grades, the study found improvements in learner engagement, confidence, and appreciation for real-world subject application. However, issues were identified regarding the level of critical thinking and self-awareness in some students' reflective writing, leading to the introduction of a framework to support reflective practice.

Thomas DeVere Wolsey, Diane Lapp · Journal of Education · Global

This article proposes a pedagogical framework for school gardens, highlighting their role in promoting healthier eating habits, sustainable local practices, and community service. It suggests that school gardens can integrate knowledge of cultures, resources, and sustainable food sources, potentially leading to increased care for the community and the planet. The article also notes that school gardens can provide opportunities for students to contribute to the availability of fresh, healthy foods in socioeconomically challenged areas.

古月 · 新农业 · Global

This paper describes urban agriculture using the popular 2013 term "gaodashang" (high-end, atmospheric, and classy). Urban agriculture is an industry in urbanized areas that utilizes pastoral landscapes, natural ecology, and environmental resources, combining agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery production, agricultural business activities, rural culture, and rural life. It provides places for people to engage in leisure tourism, experience agriculture, and understand rural areas, integrating the three functions of agricultural production, life, and ecology.