Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
940 results(38 / 38)
Vegetable Growing as a Teaching Material for Environmental Education : (1) Utilization of LISH (Low-Input Sustainable Horticulture) and Vegetable Garden as a School Garden
2000智 藤田, Satoshi FUJITA · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · Japan
At Keisen Women's College farm in Japan, the potential of using Low-Input Sustainable Horticulture (LISH) and vegetable gardening as environmental education materials was investigated over 15 years, starting in 1984. The study found that 16 different vegetable varieties could be grown organically, but cucumbers, other fruit/vegetables, and Cruciferae were virtually impossible to grow organically. However, damage could be reduced for some varieties through specific cultivation methods, and the vegetable garden was found to maintain beauty even in cold seasons and provide a suitable hands-on learning experience for environment and food.
Limited or null effectFood educationDIYOrganic cycleWaste recycling through urban farming in Hubli-Dharwad.
2000Fiona Nunan · · India (Hubli-Dharwad)
Urban agriculture in Hubli-Dharwad, India, is characterized by tradition and links with rural areas. The majority of urban agricultural activities in India involve keeping livestock, particularly in urban dairies, rather than vegetable growing by low-income communities. Urban and peri-urban agricultural activities in India are strongly associated with urban-based sources of waste, both in terms of consuming waste and producing dung.
Organic cycleWelfareCommunityDEVELOPMENT OF A NITROGEN-RELEASE ALGORITHM FOR SLOW-RELEASE FERTILIZERS
2000Kevin W. King, J. C. Balogh · Transactions of the ASAE · Global
This study developed a first-order decay equation to model the nitrogen release rate of sulfur-coated ureas (SCUs), prevalent in urban agricultural management. The model was fit with reasonable accuracy for both surface (Efficiency R²=0.63) and incorporated (Efficiency R²=0.70) applications. Temperature and seven-day dissolution were determined as best descriptive parameters for the surface model, while soil moisture and temperature were used for the incorporated model. Each model was validated with a limited amount of data, showing prediction efficiencies of 0.82 for surface and 0.63 for subsurface applications.
Organic cycleClimate changeThe greening of the "barrios": Urban agriculture for food security in Cuba
1999Altieri M.A., Companioni N., Cañizares K., Murphy C., Rosset P., Bourque M., Nicholls C.I. · Agriculture and Human Values · Cuba (Havana)
This study analyzes Cuba's grassroots urban agriculture movement that emerged after the 1989 Soviet collapse, showing how ~8,000 gardens nationwide operated on agroecological principles without synthetic inputs, providing Havana with thousands of tonnes of produce by 1996.
CommunityPolicyBiodiversityOrganic cycleDeterminants and Impact of Integration of Forage Legumes inCrop/Livestock Systems in Peri-Urban Areas of Central Uganda
1999· TSpace (University of Toronto) · Uganda
The determinants and impact of integrating forage legumes into intensive smallholder crop/livestock systems in peri-urban areas of central Uganda were investigated using an interview schedule with 90 smallholder milk producers and an econometric model. Findings showed that integration is more likely among farmers with less farmland or proximity to milk and input markets. Farmers integrating legumes into elephant grass obtain more herbage that remains greener into the dry season, spend less on artificial insemination services, and their animals have a lower incidence of disease.
Peri-urban agricultureEconomicsOrganic cycleAppropriate Technologies for Effective Management of Industrial and Domestic Waste Waters: The Decentralised Approach
1999J.B. van Lier, G. Lettinga · Water Science & Technology · Global
This paper discusses integrated environmental protection and resource conservation (EP&RC) concepts for managing industrial and domestic wastewaters, particularly in water-scarce regions. EP&RC aims for minimal consumption of energy, chemicals, and water, and maximal reuse of treated wastewater and residues, transforming wastes into resources for water, fertilizers, and soil conditioners. Anaerobic treatment is presented as a core technology for mineralizing organic compounds, stimulating urban agriculture near large cities by linking environmental protection and agricultural practices.
Organic cycleClimate changeUrban–rural linkageThe significance and praxis of community‐based sustainability projects: Community gardens in western Australia
1998Laura Stocker, Kate Barnett · Local Environment · Australia (Western Australia)
This paper reviews the types and roles of community gardens, which are managed by community members and contribute to Local Agenda 21 planning and sustainable communities. It presents a case study of a community garden in Western Australia, analyzing lessons learned and the potential contributions of such gardens to physical, ecological, sociocultural, and economic sustainability. Community gardens produce fresh organic food, create community spaces, and disseminate community science.
CommunityFood educationOrganic cycleEconomicsThe View of "Permaculture-City" Considered from the Permaculture Theory and Practices
1997Koji ITONAGA · Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan · Global
This paper describes alternative urban designs, including permaculture, eco-village movements, cohousing, community gardens, and city farms. Based on data gathered from international conferences and research in Australia, America, and Europe, the author proposes "Permaculture-City" as a restructured city model. This model integrates habitation with food production areas and eco-villages.
CommunityOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageMetals in urban gardens ‐ effect of lime and sludge
1995James R. Preer, Ahmed N. Abdi, Harkewal S. Sekhon, George B. Murchison · Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A Environmental Science and Engineering and Toxicology · Global
This study investigated cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in vegetables grown in community gardens on different urban soils. Vegetables from a low-pH urban soil without contamination history showed higher Cd and Zn levels than those from a reclaimed landfill with digested sewage sludge, and also higher than a low-metal, neutral-pH site. Liming on the low-pH site reduced Cd and Zn concentrations in beet, lettuce, radish, and Swiss chard leaves, reaching background levels after four years. The findings indicate that soil pH is more important than total soil Cd and Zn in determining vegetable metal availability.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityOrganic cycleRecognizing Ethiopia's urban farmers.
1993Lee M · PubMed · Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, urban agriculture faces significant challenges due to government disapproval of public land use for farming and difficulty in obtaining credit. A 1983 survey in Addis Ababa found that 17% of 1352 households produced their own food on less than 25 sq. meters, with 90% of non-farmers citing lack of land. Despite urban agricultural cooperatives demonstrating 70% higher member income, their lack of government legalization prevents access to loans for productivity improvement.
Governance failureCommunityEconomicsPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceHealthWelfareClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePeri-urban agricultureFood educationBiodiversityCompostDIYElderlyFood lossHeirloom & landraceOrganic cyclePollinatorsFood miles & supply chainCSA & TeikeiDigital agricultureUrban agriculture for sustainable cities: using wastes and idle land and water bodies as resources
1992Jac Smit, Joe Nasr · Environment and Urbanization · Global
This article describes how urban agriculture can transform cities from mere consumers of food and agricultural products into sustainable generators of these products. It focuses on using wastes and idle land and water bodies as resources to achieve resource conservation and health improvement.
CommunityOrganic cycleClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceTilapia culture in conjunction with irrigation and urban farming. Final report
1983K. Bondari, E. D. Threadgill, J. Bender · OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · United States
This study conducted two experiments on tilapia culture. Experiment I aimed to determine the potential of Tilapia aurea in an integrated irrigation system for algae removal and resource recovery. Experiment II investigated the potential use of blue tilapia in urban farming, utilizing a passive solar greenhouse, an indoor pond for overwintering, and an outdoor pond for summer growth.
DIYOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageProject to Increase Urban Food Production in South Africa
1982Pauline Raphaely · Birkhäuser Basel eBooks · South Africa
Food Gardens Unlimited is an educational project in South Africa that teaches disadvantaged urban populations to grow food in small areas using limited resources. The project provides five-day training courses, step-by-step directions, and subsidized seeds through existing institutions. It aims to deliver physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits to participants.
Food educationWelfareCommunityOrganic cycleHealthShort-loop living
1974Sam Love · OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · Global
This paper discusses contemporary industrial societies' reliance on extensive resource networks and proposes an alternative: moving towards self-sufficient small loop and flow systems. It describes examples of short loop arrangements in urban agriculture and solar energy housing, advocating for decentralization and diversity.
Organic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changeVilla Juanita Community Garden
1905Diana Paola Betancurth Loaiza, Natalia Sánchez Palacio, Jorge Lino Moreno Aricapa · Repositorio Universidad de Caldas · Colombia
This report details the experience of implementing the Urban Community Garden in the Villa Juanita neighborhood. The project focused on fostering urban agriculture as a strategy to improve food security and promote sustainability within the community. The garden became a space for community participation where diverse sustainable agricultural practices were integrated. Through this project, social cohesion was strengthened, environmental education was promoted, and spaces for interaction and collective learning were generated.
CommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycle