Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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9074 results(309 / 363)
NEBLINE, May 2012
2012· Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · United States
The May 2012 issue of NEBLINE features Lincoln's Biosolids Land Application Program, which is 20 years old. It also covers topics such as urban agriculture, food and fitness, home and family living, horticulture, environmental focus, 4-H and youth, community focus, and extension news and events.
Urban–rural linkageFood educationCommunityHortas em escolas urbanas, Complexidade e Transdisciplinaridade: Contribuições para a Educação Ambiental e para a Educação em Saúde
2012Elizabete Cristina Ribeiro Silva, Alexandre Brasil Carvalho da Fonseca · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
This study discusses the multidimensionality of agriculture and its interfaces with environmental and health education, based on perceptions from social actors in a school and an extension unit belonging to the Municipal Network of Rio de Janeiro. Agricultural activities are suggested as a pedagogical tool to facilitate complex thinking and transdisciplinarity, and to perceive food and environment as interconnected transversal themes. School gardens are re-qualified for urban spaces based on agroecological urban agriculture principles.
Food educationHealthCommunityRealizing a Holistic Approach to Food through School Gardens and Growing Activities
2012Mat Jones, Emma Weitkamp, Richard Kimberlee, Debra Salmon, Judy Orme · Children Youth and Environments · Global
This mixed-methods study analyzed the development of school garden initiatives by tracking the progress of 55 primary schools participating in the "Food for Life Partnership" program. Findings showed considerable expansion of food growing facilities, outputs, and supporting infrastructure. Participating students, parents, and community volunteers created new links to food-related activities in the dining hall, classroom, and home environment. The effectiveness of these changes was connected to the strategic redevelopment of growing spaces and conceptually integrated messages on food sustainability.
Food educationCommunityHealthWelfareHorticulture Project from the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Marshall Islands Promoting School Gardens
2012WU Yi · · Marshall Islands
This record describes a horticulture project by the Taiwan Technical Mission promoting school gardens. It is situated in the Marshall Islands, a country heavily reliant on imports, where food security and self-sufficiency are essential to agricultural development. Additionally, a significant number of Marshallese citizens suffer from nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases.
Food educationFood sovereignty & justiceHealthExploration of the Multi-functional Agricultural Layout and Development in Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone
2012LI Mei-zhang · Anhui nongye kexue · China
The multiple functions of agriculture (economic, social, ecological, and cultural) in the Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone were introduced. To maximize the overall benefits of multi-functional agriculture, its layout must adhere to principles such as multi-interaction, moderate scale, land space division, and coordinated development and growth. The eco-economic zone can be divided into areas of production agriculture, ecological tourism, urban agriculture, and characteristic agriculture, with each area having distinct agricultural growth points.
EconomicsPolicyUrban–rural linkageMore or less: Food for thought
2012· · Global
This paper proposes Continuous Productive Urban Landscapes (CPULs) as a complement to the compact city model, arguing that urban food production contributes to environmental sustainability. The CPUL model suggests that not all brownfield sites must be built upon, while still maximizing sustainable returns from land use. This combination is envisioned to create a new type of city.
Climate changeUrban–rural linkagePolicy以“垂直农场”景观为依托的都市托老所营建
2012王丽蓉, Rui YANG · 南京林业大学学报：人文社会科学版 · China
This article discusses the construction of urban elderly care centers based on "vertical farm" landscapes in China, addressing rapid urbanization and an aging society. It proposes integrating vertical farms into elderly care facilities to offer recreational activities and physical labor, aiming to improve the mental and physical well-being of the elderly. The article explores new community-based elderly care models, drawing on practices in Nanjing's Nanhu community, by introducing a public participation system and green ecological landscape techniques.
ElderlyCommunityHealthChapter 8 Planning for urban agriculture: problem recognition, policy formation, and politics
2012Nevin Cohen · · United States
This chapter discusses the nature of urban agriculture planning and policymaking in the US and the conditions necessary for policy implementation, using John Kingdon's multiple streams policy framework. Case studies of five US cities illustrate how problem recognition and policy formation, in the presence of supportive political conditions, create a window of opportunity for implementing urban agriculture policy.
PolicyCommunityThe first steps on agricultural education in Turkish elementary schools: The school garden project
2012Salih Çepni, Miraç Aydın, Mehmet Akif Haşıloğlu, Mustafa Ürey · Bursa Uludag University - AVESIS · Turkey (Trabzon)
This study, conducted in Trabzon, Turkey, from February to June 2007-2008, aimed to reveal changes in agricultural knowledge among twenty-four 6th-grade students participating in a "School Garden Project." Using the RAST Model, students were divided into 6 groups, and data was collected through pre- and post-application interviews and researcher observations. The project generally achieved desired alterations across all five agricultural course targets.
Food educationCommunityUrban agriculture in Senegal: effect of wastewater on the agronomical performance and hygienic quality of tomato and lettuce
2012Y. Niang, S. Niang, Saliou Niassy, Y Dieng, Mohamed Gaye, K. Diarra · International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences · Senegal
This study assessed the effect of wastewater on the agronomical performance and hygienic quality of tomato and lettuce in Senegal, comparing it to tap water, irrigation modes, and fertilizers. While tomato showed no pathogenic germs with wastewater, lettuce watered with wastewater via aspersion contained significantly more pathogenic germs than those watered in draining mode. Significant differences in yield and fruit size were observed between lettuce treated with tap water and wastewater.
Contamination & food safetyHealthOrganic cycle도시농업 활성화와 곤충
2012서명훈, 이원석, 전명희, 김성기 · · South Korea
In South Korea, urban agriculture is being revitalized with the enactment of urban agriculture-related laws in 2011 and active promotion by local governments. The total urban agriculture area in Seoul and Gyeonggi regions is 251.6 ha, and urban gardens with diverse crops exhibit biodiversity, allowing for relatively flexible insect life cycles. However, challenges include unauthorized biological and chemical pest control due to multiple people managing small areas, and the absence of winter crops due to limited usage periods. Environmentally friendly insect management, utilizing natural enemies, traps, and biodiversity, is necessary for urban gardens.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityPollinatorsImpact Evaluation of Community Gardening Initiatives on Food Security in Ghanaian Towns from an African Perspective
2012Yves ZONGO, Isidore Mbock, Ngaïmi Fongòmba, Siméon Ndayizeye · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Ghana
To evaluate the impact of community gardening initiatives on food security in Ghanaian towns, a structured survey was administered online and through face-to-face interviews. Findings indicated that community garden programs resulted in an average of 20% increase in vegetable production per household, with significant improvements noted among women and youth participants who traditionally had limited access to fresh produce.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfarePolicyPollination by Native Bee Communities in Berkeley, California
2012Kevin F. Welzel · Berkeley Scientific Journal · United States (California)
This study examined native bee pollination at two urban agricultural sites in Berkeley, California: the Oxford Tract and Berkeley Youth Alternative garden. It observed squash, tomato, strawberry, and sunflower plants, collecting data on distance from natural habitat, native bee pollinator diversity, and visitation rates. The study found mixed results for genus richness and evenness, and a t-test indicated no significant difference in visitation rates for each plant type between the two sites.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityLos cultivos de cobertura en la horticultura familiar urbana: una oportunidad para mejorar la formación del estudiante de agronomía.
2012Marcelo Milo Vaccaro, Geovanny Francisco Ruiz Muñoz, CARLOS HENRIQUE FARIAS TORRES, Javier Couretot · · Argentina (Rosario)
Research conducted in Rosario, Argentina, in 2012, evaluated the efficiency of cover crops in recovering urban soils and characterized agro-ecological practices among urban vegetable producers. The study found that cover crops are effective for urban land recovery and that producers possess the knowledge to integrate them. Additionally, the experience enhanced agricultural engineering students' professional training by developing their social skills and ethical commitment.
CommunityFood educationOrganic cycleEmerging Community Food Production And Pathways For Urban Landscape Transitions
2012Sarah Bell, Cristina Cerulli · UCL Discovery (University College London) · United Kingdom (London)
A case study of a newly established community garden in London was analyzed. The study used the multi-level perspective on transitions to sustainable development by Grin et al. (2010) and modeling of cities as complex systems by Wilson (2010a) and Batty (2005) to analyze the potential for emerging community gardens to contribute to transitions to sustainable urban food systems. Urban agriculture is considered a core element for the future of sustainable cities.
CommunityClimate changePolicyUrban–rural linkageEnterprise Choice Decisions in Urban Food Production in Nigeria
2012Ubokudom E. Okon, Anselm A. Enete, Taofeq A. Amusa · Outlook on Agriculture · Nigeria
This study identified factors influencing enterprise choice decisions among urban smallholder farmers in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. Based on farm-level data from 160 randomly selected farmers and analyzed using a multinomial logit model, marital status and household size were negatively and significantly related to choosing pepper over waterleaf, while choosing garden egg was positively related to marital status. Farmers' formal education level and farm size were positively and significantly related to choosing cassava, maize, pepper, or garden egg over waterleaf, but income was negatively and significantly related to choosing these other crops.
EconomicsWelfareFood sovereignty & justiceIntroducing a Longitudinal Study of Community Gardeners and Gardens in New York City
2012Erika S. Svendsen, Lindsay K. Campbell, Nancy Falxa-Raymound, Jessica Northridge, Edie Stone, Carolin Mees · Cities and the Environment · United States (New York City)
This study introduces a longitudinal examination of community gardens in New York City, building on data collected since 2003 by the GreenThumb program. In summer 2011, structured phone interviews were conducted with representatives from a sample of 102 community gardens to examine membership, programming, partnerships, and motivations for gardening from 2003-2011. The research aims to understand the evolving role of community gardens and how they have changed over time.
CommunityPolicyHealthEconomicsSustainable School Gardens and Green Education: Familiar Lessons through a New Lens
2012Arvazena E. Clardy, Brian R. Copeland · The Agricultural education magazine · United States (Nashville)
This article advocates for implementing sustainable school gardens in agriscience education programs, drawing on the author's experience as a former educator and current work with middle and secondary schools in Nashville, Tennessee. It suggests that school gardens can cement learning for students and address issues like food deserts and childhood obesity in inner-city areas.
Food educationCommunityHealthWelfareBeyond a Construction Site, Beyond National Citizenship: The Infrapolitics of Translocal Citizenship
2012Žiga Vodovnik · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
This article examines the concept of "translocal citizenship," which moves away from the nation-state as its territorial reference point and rejects its continuation within new supranational entities. The second part focuses on the "Beyond a Construction Site" project, initiated by the Obrat Culture and Art Association (KUD Obrat), where an unused construction site has been repurposed as a community garden. This project practically illustrates translocal citizenship by fostering new forms of collective action and political membership better suited for intercultural dialogue and the inclusion of migrant communities.
CommunityPolicyWelfare西湖区打造“都市农业精品区”的实践与思考
2012黄卫国 · 杭州农业与科技 · China
In Xihu District, the construction of "urban agricultural fine product zones" is promoted as part of building a modern industrial system and "five zones". Recently, the Xihu District Committee and government have leveraged policy, brand, environmental, and resource advantages to focus on developing these zones, fostering the continuous and healthy development of urban agriculture.
Urban–rural linkageEconomicsPolicyMassachusetts Avenue Project: Urban Farming and Job Skills for Youth
2012Rebecca Mize · eCommons (Cornell University) · United States
The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) aims to create a more local and inclusive food system by growing fresh produce on its urban farm on the West Side of Buffalo. Annually, MAP employs approximately 50 at-risk youth to support the transformation of the community's food system.
CommunityFood educationWelfareEconomicsFinancing urban agriculture
2012Yves Cabannes · Environment and Urbanization · Global
This action research, conducted by local teams in 17 cities across Latin America, Asia, and Africa, investigated how urban farmers finance their activities. The study found that urban farmers primarily rely on their own resources, and a lack of access to financing is a major bottleneck for maintaining and expanding their operations. It also identified gaps between farmers' needs and existing public and private financial practices.
Economic viabilityEconomicsPolicyCluster Development of Zhengzhou Urban Agriculture Based on Diamond Model
2012Wu, De-Hui, Wu, De-Hui · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · China (Zhengzhou)
This paper analyzes the competitive power of Zhengzhou urban agriculture from the perspectives of production factors, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, business strategies and structure, and horizontal competition, based on the basic theory of the Diamond Model. It introduces cluster development as an effective approach to enhancing the competitive power of Zhengzhou urban agriculture. Finally, it presents countermeasures and suggestions such as optimizing spatial distribution for cluster development, cultivating leading enterprises, optimizing organizational forms, and actively developing low-carbon agriculture.
EconomicsPolicyClimate changeBM균 및 Biochar를 이용한 친환경 옥상녹화시스템 개발
2012고성철, 김수현, 김경묵, 장재수, 이은희 · 한국생태환경건축학회 학술발표대회 논문집 · Global
This study focused on implementing a functional rooftop garden using biochar and the microbial consortium BM-S-1. Biochar amendment reduced heavy metal (Pb and Zn) runoff and maintained more moisture to stimulate plant growth, but it did not maintain NO3- and PO43-. The amendment of biochar and BM-S-1 somewhat inhibited the growth of broadleaf liriope, while biochar amendment increased tolerance to storm carrying salt.
BiodiversityClimate changeOrganic cycleA green oasis in a food desert : increasing the accessibility of affordable healthy foods in an urban neighborhood in Hartford, CT
2012Katherine Johns-Galvin · · United States
This research examined the cycle of poor nutrition in the Frog Hollow neighborhood, Hartford, Connecticut, an urban food desert characterized by limited access to affordable, healthy foods. It argues that the growth of farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture, and community gardens has reintroduced affordable, attainable healthy foods to the neighborhood. This introduction of locally grown produce at affordable prices has enabled the Frog Hollow neighborhood to begin addressing food insecurity.
CommunityCSA & TeikeiHealthFood sovereignty & justice