Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1022 results(40 / 41)
Corporate social responsibility: a case study of the UK's leading food retailers
2005Jones P., Comfort D., Hillier D., Eastwood I. · British Food Journal · United Kingdom
Analyzes CSR reporting by the UK's leading food retailers, finding support for local food producers, healthy eating, charitable donations, and local community initiatives as principal CSR themes promoted in stores.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyA Deterministic Method for Deriving Site-Specific Human Health Assessment Criteria for Contaminants in Soil
2005C. Paul Nathanail, Caroline McCaffrey, Naomi Earl, Neil D. Foster, A. G. Gillett, Richard Ogden · Human and Ecological Risk Assessment An International Journal · United Kingdom
This paper describes a deterministic method for deriving Site-Specific Assessment Criteria (SSAC) in the UK for human health risks from chronic exposure to heavy metals, metalloids, and organic substances in soil. The SSAC indicates soil concentrations above which unacceptable health risks may occur, considering standard and non-standard land uses and various exposure pathways. The method is not intended to generate or replace UK Soil Guideline Values, as this is the responsibility of UK authoritative bodies.
Contamination & food safetyHealthContinuous Productive Urban Landscapes: urban agriculture as an essential infrastructure
2005André Viljoen, Katrin Bohn · University of Brighton Repository (University of Brighton) · United Kingdom (London)
This paper, from a U.K. perspective, discusses urban agriculture using London as an example. While the benefits of urban agriculture for food security and income have often focused on the Global South, its integration into a multifunctional land use strategy could significantly reduce a city's ecological footprint, raising questions about its wider implementation.
Urban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsClimate changePolicyCapacity Building for School Gardening
2005A Swedish, Case Study, Petter Åkerblom · · Europe
Experiences from Swedish research on school gardening and greening school grounds were reflected upon. A process-orientated case study in two Swedish cities discussed future workshops as a platform for situated capacity building in interaction between in-school and external stakeholders (e.g., school ground planners, administrators). The case study indicates that using future workshops as a research method involves stakeholders as subjects in the collaborative production of new knowledge.
Food educationCommunityDetermination of chromium in soil of Lodz gardens
2005B. Jankiewicz, B. Ptaszyński · Polish Journal of Environmental Studies · Poland
This study determined the levels of bioavailable and total chromium (III) and chromium (VI) in the soil of an allotment garden located in the center of Łódź, Poland. Chromium was measured using the spectrophotometric method and atomic absorption spectrometry. The research also examined the effects of iron and copper ions on the determination results.
Contamination & food safetyOrganic cycleAssessing potential risk of heavy metal exposure from consumption of home-produced vegetables by urban populations
2004Hough R., Breward N., Young S., Crout N., Tye A., Moir A., Thornton I. · Environmental Health Perspectives · United Kingdom
The study modeled uptake of cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc into home-produced vegetables and assessed the heavy-metal exposure risk to urban populations from eating homegrown food.
HealthDiversity and connections in community gardens: a contribution to local sustainability
2004Leigh Holland · Local Environment · United Kingdom
This 2004 study in the United Kingdom analyzed the community garden movement through questionnaires and in-depth interviews. It found that community gardens, often in inner-city areas, serve diverse purposes including vegetation growing, permaculture, organic methods, health, education, and training. These gardens are strongly characterized by community participation and involvement, suggesting the movement could model local social, economic, and environmental policy implementation.
CommunityClimate changePolicyONE HUNDRED YEARS OF ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN POLAND1
2004Anne C. Bellows · Food and Foodways · Poland
Polish allotment gardeners collectively represent the largest land managers in Poland, with a formalized urban allotment food production system dating back to 1997. This system, combining local and national government policy with NGO management and private use, provides a model for food security and urban open space. However, this arrangement also creates ongoing tension among stakeholders and a contentious debate regarding the private and public uses of urban land.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageTHE LEGACY OF ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN INDUSTRIAL URBAN SETTINGS
2004Tanja Pless‐Mulloli, Vivienne S. Air, Catherine Vizard, Ian Singleton, D. L. Rimmer, Philip Hartley · Epidemiology · United Kingdom
A study in an urban, industrial allotment site in the UK's northeast assessed the potential for public health impact related to soil contamination by taking 86 soil samples and analyzing vegetables and eggs. All 18 initial soil samples exceeded UK guidelines for lead (median 869 mg/kg) and arsenic (median 40 mg/kg), and widespread contamination with PCDD/F was also found. Despite high soil contamination, the uptake of lead and arsenic into vegetables and eggs was low, and these were not deemed major exposure pathways.
Contamination & food safetyCommunityHealthPolicy" L'agriculture urbaine dans le bassin méditerranéen, une réalité ancienne à l'heure du renouveau",
2004Marc Lavergne · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · Europe
While urbanization and agriculture often appear contradictory, the existence of urban agriculture (intra-urban and peri-urban) in the Mediterranean basin demonstrates that their relationship is not as clear-cut. Urban growth consumes agricultural land, and urban and rural worlds seem radically opposed in lifestyles and values. However, urban agriculture has forged complex relationships with the urban environment, involving both antagonisms and complementarities.
Urban–rural linkagePolicyClimate changeEthno-cultural representation in the urban landscape
2004Clare Rishbeth · Journal of Urban Design · United Kingdom (London)
This paper investigates how urban greenspace can be designed and managed to reflect ethnic diversity and how this is perceived by users, using two case studies of community gardens in London. It found some differences in the response to the gardens by people from different ethnic backgrounds. The use of obvious symbolism was not necessarily a primary means of encouraging users from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, though appreciated for educational and design strengths. Concern is expressed about aspects of the physical and psychological containment of ethnic groups in fixed places and identities leading to the perpetuation of stereotypes.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyEconomicsSustainable Implant and EVA Centre, Culemborg; a hub for Sustainable Development
2004Arjan van Timmeren, Wiek Röling, Marleen Kaptein · · Netherlands (Culemborg)
This paper focuses on an innovation in urban development in the Lanxmeer district of Culemborg, Netherlands. A "Sustainable Implant (SI)" based on permaculture and organic design principles will be built in conjunction with the EVA-Center and an ecological city-farm. The SI functions as an interconnector for three "essential" flows in urban planning, such as wastewater management and energy generation, facilitating both vertical and horizontal integration. It is considered a sustainable hub operating at three scales: the Culemborg region, the Lanxmeer urban district, and the nearby EVA Center.
Organic cycleClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityLes jardins familiaux dans l’arc méditerranéen : cent ans d’agriculture dans la ville. Analyse comparative de trois agglomérations : Marseille, Gênes et Barcelone
2004Jean-Noël Consalès · Mélanges de l École française de Rome Italie et Méditerranée · France (Marseille), Italy (Genoa), Spain (Barcelona)
This comparative analysis traces one hundred years of urban agriculture in the Mediterranean arc, focusing on family gardens in Marseille (France), Genoa (Italy), and Barcelona (Spain). It identifies three major stages: from the 19th century to post-WWII, family gardens developed in France; during the Trente Glorieuses, they declined in France but emerged in Italy and Spain; and since the mid-1970s, the diffusion of ecological values has conferred important territorial functions upon family gardens.
CommunityEconomicsOrganic cycleCultivated histories in a Scottish allotment garden
2003Caitlin DeSilvey · Cultural Geographies · United Kingdom (Edinburgh)
A paper on Scottish allotment gardens examines how the ambiguity pervading allotment practice surfaces as a liability in strategic appeals and draws out the survival of historical forms in contemporary political negotiations, by juxtaposing narratives of involvement in a Scottish Parliament Allotments Inquiry and the history of a single Edinburgh allotment site.
PolicyCommunityUrban–rural linkageENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY EVIDENCE AND RISK COMMUNICATION
2003Tanja Pless‐Mulloli, Karen L. Foster, J Bush · Epidemiology · United Kingdom (Newcastle upon Tyne)
Investigations in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, analyzed the extent and consequences of disposing 2000 tons of incinerator ash on over forty allotments. Soil, egg, and vegetable samples (75 soil, 21 egg, 65 vegetable) revealed contamination of footpaths with dioxin/furan (max 9000 ng/kg I-TEQ) and high levels of copper, lead, and zinc. Mean dioxin/furan levels in soil were 38 ng/kg I-TEQ and in eggs were 16.4 ng/kg I-TEQ, indicating significant contamination and potential exposure pathways for allotment gardeners and children.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityPolicyLa construction contemporaine de la ville-campagne en Europe / The modern construction of a « country town » in Europe
2003Pierre Donadieu, André Fleury · Revue de géographie alpine · Europe
This paper discusses the role of agriculture in the "country town" project in Europe. Peri-urban areas, once unpleasant environments despite their essential urban functions, have recently become attractive to new inhabitants seeking countryside amenities. Urban planning supports this concept by creating green belts and integrating agriculture as an essential element of natural spaces.
Peri-urban agricultureUrban–rural linkagePolicyCommunityL'agriculture face au développement économique : un combat inégal ou des politiques périurbaines à construire
2003N. Bertrand, Nicole Rousier · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · France (Grenoble)
In the Grenoble urban region, agriculture holds relatively minor economic importance despite the region's strong technological development. However, the region's 2000 master plan assigned an essential role to farming. Peri-urban agriculture is a key issue in planning policies, engaging local officials, planners, and farming community representatives, but its economic weight remains low.
Economic viabilityPolicyPeri-urban agricultureEconomicsUrban allotment gardens in the eighteenth century: the case of Sheffield
2003Neville Flavell · Agricultural history review · United Kingdom
This paper argues that Sheffield was the first town to experience workers' gardens en masse in the late eighteenth century, with many acres of horticultural land used as allotment gardens. While other provincial town histories of the period, except Birmingham, make little mention of similar phenomena, a cautious calculation suggests 1500-1800 allotments were available for rent in Sheffield in the 1780s.
CommunityFactors affecting the distribution of small mammals in an urban area
2003Philip J. Baker, RACHEL J. ANSELL, PHILLIPPA A. A. DODDS, CLAIRE E. WEBBER, Stephen Harris · Mammal Review · United Kingdom (Bristol)
This study investigated small mammal distribution across five urban habitats in north-west Bristol, including residential and allotment gardens. It found that wood mouse abundance in residential gardens was negatively related to cat abundance and distance to natural vegetation. The results suggest urban small mammal populations may be limited by predation and habitat fragmentation.
BiodiversityCommunityL'agriculture face au développement économique : un combat inégal ou des politiques périurbaines à construire / Agriculture versus economic development : an unequal fight or a question of new policies for the peri-urban area
2003Nathalie Bertrand, Nicole Rousier · Revue de géographie alpine · France (Grenoble)
This study analyzed the economic role of agriculture in the Grenoble urban region, France. From an economic perspective, agriculture was considered an activity of relatively minor importance in this region, known for its strong technological development. However, in the regional master plan approved in 2000, farming occupies an essential position. The study aimed to understand the role of peri-urban agriculture in the preparation of the urban region's development plan by specifying its assigned functions and analyzing how agriculture has been considered in regional plans.
Governance failurePeri-urban agriculturePolicyEconomicsGrowing Food in Cities: the Implications for Land-Use Policy
2003Joe Howe · Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning · United Kingdom
This article explores the neglect of research concerning food grown within urban areas and its land-use policy implications. It details findings from a UK study on land-use policy and urban agriculture, investigating land-use officials' attitudes and knowledge of urban food production and the regulatory framework used. The article concludes that despite extensive urban agriculture practice, its urban land-use policy implications require more attention from both land-use officials and researchers than previously given.
Governance failurePolicyUrban–rural linkageFood sovereignty & justiceThe National Socialist Garden and Landscape Ideal: Bodenständigkeit (Rootedness in the Soil)
2002Wolschke-Bulmahn J., Gröning G. · In R. A. Etlin (ed.), Art, Culture, and Media under the Third Reich, University of Chicago Press, pp. 73–97 · Germany
Book chapter interpreting the Nazi garden and landscape ideal through the concept of 'Bodenständigkeit' (rootedness in the soil), showing how small-scale, landscape-adapted gardens using native plants and materials embodied Blood and Soil ideology.
PolicyCommunityAfter Seattle
2002Jonathan Rutherford · The Review of Education Pedagogy & Cultural Studies · United Kingdom (London)
This record describes demonstrations in Parliament Square, London, on May Day 2000. Reclaim the Streets organized a Guerrilla Gardening spectacle, digging up the lawn in the center of the Square and planting in protest against capitalism.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justice"No House Building without Garden Building!" ("Kein Hausbau ohne Landbau!"): The Modern Landscapes of Leberecht Migge
2001Haney D. H. · Journal of Architectural Education, 54(3), 149-157 · Germany
Examines Migge's designs for Weimar-era Siedlungen of small flats and row houses with adjacent garden plots, arguing that landscape was central to competing visions of interwar modernity and that productive gardens were integral to modern housing.
CommunityEconomicsOrganic cycleUrban horticulture on the verge of a new century Insights of the International Symposium on Plant Health in Urban Horticulture held in Braunschweig, Germany, from May 22 to May 25, 2000
2001G. F. Backhaus, H. Balder · Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (Julius Kühn-Institut) · Germany
The International Symposium on Plant Health in Urban Horticulture, held in Braunschweig, Germany, from May 22 to 25, 2000, served as a platform to discuss deficits in the care and development of urban greenery and propose integrated concepts. Urban horticulture comprises diverse elements characterizing urban life, but many stress factors damage these components, and integrated concepts for maintaining and preserving urban green areas are lacking. The symposium aimed to jointly prepare future needs for action for the health preservation of urban green at an international level.
CommunityHealthPeri-urban agriculture