Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
11393 results(366 / 456)
Regional Distribution of Stay-type Allotment Gardens and their Stay Facilities
2013Masao Makiyama, Norifumi Hosoya, Mami Inoue · JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION · Japan
This study examined the regional distribution of stay-type allotment gardens (kleingartens, KGs) and their facilities, focusing on vacant facilities and future construction planning. Significant numbers of KGs and facilities were found in Nagano and Hyogo Prefectures, with Nagano having many early constructions. In fiscal year 2011, 22 KGs had vacant facilities, but this could not be solely explained by facility location density.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageA Right to Farm in the City: Providing a Legal Framework for Legitimizing Urban Farming in American Cities
2013Susanne A. Heckler · ValpoScholar (Valparaiso University) · United States
This paper examines the "shrinking city" phenomenon in American cities, characterized by rapid population decline and increased vacant properties, and explores urban agriculture as a strategy to address this issue. It discusses the benefits and drawbacks of urban farming, the historical impact of American zoning and nuisance laws on agriculture, and current efforts to integrate urban agriculture into state and city policy frameworks.
PolicyCommunityEconomicsJust what is Outdoor Education?
2013John 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.
Food educationCommunityUrban Gardening: espacio de creación, crítica social y activismo ecológico
2013Àngels Viladomiu Canela · · Global
This paper reviews specific artistic interventions that address urban land uses and farming methods. These actions, through the act of planting and cultivating, generate spaces for the expression of artistic, political, and social identities. These places are settling in the interstices of our cities, such as empty brownfield sites, non-urbanized or semi-urbanized areas, riverbanks, highway verges, and railway edges.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceWorking the Waters: Political Ecology of Scale and Georgia's "100-year" Drought, 2007-2009
2013Ellen Kohl · Southeastern geographer · United States (Georgia)
This case study analyzed water management during the 2007-2009 drought in Athens, Georgia, examining how urban agriculture sector members recognized multi-scalar water management and used these interactions for political benefit. The study found that interactions between state, regional, and local drought management, drought perceptions, and interpretations of power to manage water during the drought led to the approval of Georgia House Bill 1281, which changed how water is managed during drought. This paper argues that it is necessary to consider the perception of drought and drought management, as well as the drought itself, because they influence how stakeholders participate in political processes and change how water is used during drought.
PolicyUrban–rural linkageClimate changeUrban Agriculture and the Sustainable City: How Policy Changes Concerning Infrastructure and Urban Agriculture Can Economically and Environmentally Benefit Atlanta
2013E. N. Ward · SMARTech Repository (Georgia Institute of Technology) · United States
This paper aimed to assert that urban agriculture provides economic and environmental benefits to cities, specifically identifying ways the City of Atlanta could leverage these benefits. It tested the hypothesis that Atlanta can economically benefit by establishing urban agriculture as a land use, using a literature review, scaling data from other cities to Atlanta, and land suitability analysis. The analysis indicated that urban agriculture offers advantages in waste management, public land management, and stormwater management, demonstrating it as an economically viable movement providing social, environmental, and economic benefits.
PolicyEconomicsClimate changeOrganic cycle“Doing” Gardening and “Being” at the Allotment Site: Exploring the Benefits of Allotment Gardening for Stress Reduction and Healthy Aging
2013Jemma Hawkins, Jenny Mercer, Katie Thirlaway, Deborah A. Clayton · Ecopsychology · United Kingdom (Wales)
This study investigated the perceived health and well-being benefits of allotment gardening for community-dwelling older adults in Wales, UK, with a focus on stress recovery. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, the study found that participants valued both the active "doing" of gardening and the passive "being" at the allotment site. These aspects were reported to provide a wide range of benefits to their health and well-being, including links to stress reduction.
HealthElderlyCommunityKONDISI EKSISTING URBAN FARMING DI DENPASAR BARAT(EXISTING CONDITION OF URBAN FARMING IN WEST DENPASAR)
2013Yohanes Parlindungan Situmeang, Anak Agung Ngurah Mayun Wirajaya, Made Sri Yuliartini · · Indonesia (Denpasar)
In West Denpasar, Indonesia, urban agriculture contributes to food security and provides an alternative for the urban poor. Urban farmers show high interest in cultivating kale, pandan leaves, and lotus flowers, which are recommended due to favorable agro-climatic conditions and high economic value. Optimizing idle land utilization through urban farming is expected to reduce urban land conversion.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate change社区支持农业（CSA）型都市农业观光园优化设计——以上海市崇明开心农庄为例
2013王冬灵, Genxu Wang, 车生泉 · 上海交通大学学报：农业科学版 · China (Shanghai)
This article discusses the feasibility and optimization design of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) type urban agricultural tourism parks in China, using Chongming Happy Farm in Shanghai as an example. It analyzes issues to consider when developing such parks and explores design optimizations across five aspects: agricultural production systems, tourism systems, overall layout, functional spatial structure, and operation management. The study suggests that CSA-type urban agricultural tourism parks can optimize urban agricultural tourism development and expand suburban agricultural development paths.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsPeri-urban agriculturePollution as a threat factor to urban food security in metropolitan Kano, Nigeria
2013Mansur Usman Dawaki, Abubakar U. Dikko, S. S. Noma, Umar Aliyu · Food and Energy Security · Nigeria
This study evaluated pollution risks to food security from urban agriculture in Kano, Nigeria, by sampling soil, water, and lettuce from two wastewater-irrigated sites (Challawa, Jakara) and a control site (Watari). Results showed all sites were contaminated with Cu, and the domestic wastewater site was slightly polluted with Pb and excessively polluted with Cd and Cr. Metal levels in irrigation waters exceeded recommended thresholds, and plants at the domestic wastewater site accumulated metal concentrations (Pb=26.21 mg/kg, Cd=1.03 mg/kg, Cr=28.63 mg/kg, Cu=2.66 mg/kg) that exceeded allowable limits in vegetables, indicating a human ingestion risk.
Contamination & food safetyHealthFood sovereignty & justiceUtilisation de l'eau de pluie dans les jardins collectifs en France : enjeux, problématiques et premières analyses des pratiques Rainwater harvesting and use in community gardens in France: issues, risks and first practices analysis
2013Mucig Charlotte · · France
A survey on rainwater harvesting in community gardens in France indicates that while this practice has been ongoing for years, it is poorly documented and faces challenges in adapting to new French regulations. The findings highlight public health issues for both garden users and consumers of fruits and vegetables, as well as environmental and operational concerns.
Contamination & food safetyCommunityHealthAwareness Campaign Effectiveness in Promoting Water Conservation Behaviors Among Urban Female Gardeners in Lagos, Nigeria 2013
2013Femi Adesina, Ifunanya Oluwadamilola, Chinedu Akwu · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Nigeria (Lagos)
In 2013, the effectiveness of an awareness campaign promoting water conservation behaviors was investigated among 150 urban female gardeners in Lagos, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach, including pre- and post-intervention surveys, found a significant increase from 25% to 48% in the adoption of water-saving irrigation techniques after the campaign. While the campaign was effective in enhancing knowledge and behavior, further tailored interventions are recommended for sustained impact.
CommunityClimate changeFood educationFood Forests and Home Gardens: Their Roles and Functions in Domestic Food Production and Food Security in the Caribbean
2013Clinton L. Beckford, Donovan Campbell · Palgrave Macmillan US eBooks · Caribbean
In the Caribbean, kitchen gardens are categorized into home gardens and food forests, both grown on home plots. Home gardens are small areas for short-term crops, used for home consumption and sharing, while food forests are low-maintenance agroforestry systems with diverse plant species, including fruit trees and non-food hardwoods. These systems mimic a forest's vertical structure.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityOrganic cycleFunctional Change and the Peri‐Urban Region: Food Systems and Agricultural Vulnerability
2013Andrew Butt · Economic Papers A journal of applied economics and policy · Australia
This article reviews changes in farm output and structure in peri-urban regions around Australia's cities. It concludes that farming in these regions is changing differently from other agricultural regions, with productivity centered on a few high-value activities. The majority of peri-urban farming, while potentially providing landscape services, is unable to adjust to changing productivity regimes, creating vulnerabilities for these farming systems.
Economic viabilityPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageTeacher Professional Learning Communities for Sustainability: Supporting STEM in Learning Gardens in Low-Income Schools
2013Sybil S. Kelley, Dilafruz R. Williams · PDXScholar (Portland State University) · Global
A summer program engaged teachers in hands-on STEM education within learning gardens at four low-income schools in southeast Portland. The program aimed to transform teaching and learning by providing experiences that connect STEM to real life and sustainability. Teacher feedback highlighted the value of learning STEM in gardens and addressing social and environmental justice.
Food educationCommunityWelfareSocio-economic characterization of integrated cropping systems in urban and peri-urban agriculture of Faisalabad, Pakistan
2013Shoaib Ur Rehman, Martina Předotová, Iqar Ahmad Khan, Eva Schlecht, Buerkert, Andreas · GoeScholar The Publication Server of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) · Pakistan
A baseline survey conducted in Faisalabad, Pakistan, from 2009–2010 studied 140 households to characterize urban and peri-urban agricultural (UPA) systems. Findings showed 96% of households relied on agriculture, with 70% of heads having primary education. Farmers cultivated 35 species, predominantly vegetables (65%), and faced major problems including scarcity of high-quality irrigation water and inadequate mineral fertilizers. Half of the respondents earned less than US$1.25 daily.
EconomicsUrban–rural linkageCommunityHUERTA URBANA Y SALUD MENTAL: SUS EFECTOS EN LA SUBJETIVIDAD DE NIÑOS Y ADOLESCENTES
2013Fabiana Naiman, Juan José Calzetta · V Congreso Internacional de Investigación y Práctica Profesional en Psicología XX Jornadas de Investigación Noveno Encuentro de Investigadores en Psicología del MERCOSUR · Argentina
This study is based on a University Extension Program titled "The Urban Orchard: A Tool for Inclusion of Children and Adolescents," conducted under the UBANEX Programme 2012/2013 by the University of Buenos Aires. The program aimed to develop children's and adolescents' ability to generate and produce a self-managed urban garden. Program implementation showed that the urban orchard produced positive effects at both inter- and intra-subjective levels, fostering curiosity, creativity, responsibility, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-criticism, teamwork, and the quality of links between subjects.
Food educationHealthCommunityWelfareThe Lynch Community Garden Project
2013Hilary Neff, Rachel Manning · OPUS - Open Portal to University Scholarship (Governors State University) · United States (Ohio)
This record introduces Hilary Neff, a third-year Environmental Studies student at Oberlin College, focusing on Food Justice and Sustainable Communities. She is passionate about local foods and community empowerment projects.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDeveloping Urban Community Garden Projects
2013Austen 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.
CommunityFood educationDIYSeedfolks: An Integrated Literature and Visual Art Unit
2013Michi 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.
CommunityFood educationApplication of information resources construction in urban agriculture
2013Qin Shu-ying · Journal of Academic Library and Information Science · China
This paper analyzes the concepts of urban agriculture and information resources construction, discussing the characteristics of urban agriculture and the current state of information resources construction in China. It introduces methods for understanding user needs and proposes different approaches to resource construction for various users. Principles and specific methods for information resources construction in urban agriculture are designed, with measures such as increasing information collectors and improving personnel quality being suggested.
Digital agriculturePolicyItaly case study
2013OECD · OECD eBooks · Italy
This chapter presents three Italian case studies: "Custody of the Territory" in Tuscany, a community garden in Campania, and mountain pastures in Aosta Valley. These cases discuss agri-environmental public goods provided by collective action, factors affecting outcomes in collective action, and policy measures supporting collective action, through environmental services by local government agencies and farmers' agreements, collaborative green spaces converted from degraded sites, and collective management of mountain pastures with regional support.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityDefining the skycourt and skygarden
2013Jason Pomeroy · · Egypt
The ancient Egyptian city of Fustat, now part of Old Cairo, incorporated skygardens. Archaeological findings indicate its importance as a trade hub and production center. Historical accounts describe 14-storey residential buildings with rooftop gardens irrigated by ox-drawn water wheels.
CommunityDIYThe Effects of Urban Land Use on Wasps: (Hymenoptera: Apocrita)
2013Klaire Elise Freeman · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network) · United States (Cleveland)
A study in Cleveland, Ohio, examined the role of wasps in urban gardens and vacant lots, collecting 13,339 arthropods, including 5,165 wasps across 24 families and 369 morphospecies. The findings showed higher wasp abundance, species richness, and number of families in vacant lots compared to urban gardens. Specifically, vacant lots had 2,703 individuals and 288 morphospecies, while gardens had 2,462 individuals and 231 morphospecies.
BiodiversityPollinatorsCommunityGrowing Language Awareness in the Classroom Garden
2013Patricia Paugh, Mary Jane Moran · Language Arts · Global
For four years, Pat Paugh and Mary Moran conducted action research on literacy development linked to a third-grade community gardening and urban farming curriculum. They used Critical Pedagogy of Place and Systemic Functional Linguistics frameworks to integrate explicit language instruction with student-centered curriculum. This article illustrates how functional grammar aspects, genre and register, supported linguistic growth and connected literacy learning to community involvement.
Food educationCommunity