Research & reports

· Water, Air, & Soil Pollution · Global

Irrigates potted lettuce, carrots and peppers with untreated and treated (settling plus slow sand filtration) household greywater over eight weeks and tests edible portions for faecal indicator organisms.

· Journal of Community Practice · USA

A case study of a community gardening/conservation program analyzing the individual, social, and community-level benefits generated through participation in the program's activities.

Somerset S., Markwell K. · Public Health Nutrition · Australia (Queensland)

A 12-month intervention trial introduced a food garden at a state primary school (grades 4-7) in a low socio-economic area, evaluating changes in children's ability to identify vegetables and fruit and their attitudes toward them, against a historical control.

· Leisure Studies · Port Melbourne, Australia

Ten members of a community garden in Port Melbourne, Australia were interviewed with semi-structured questions exploring their perceptions of the health and wellbeing benefits of participation.

Sarah Dooling · International Journal of Urban and Regional Research · USA (Seattle)

Defines 'ecological gentrification' as the implementation of a public green-space planning agenda that displaces the most vulnerable (homeless people) while espousing an environmental ethic—framing green public policy itself as a driver of exclusion.

Kevin C. Matteson, Gail Langellotto · Cities and the Environment · United States (New York City)

In 2005, a study compiled a list of crop plants in 19 New York City community gardens, classifying them by bee pollination dependence. Using mark-recapture methods, the abundance of the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) was estimated. Wild populations of B. impatiens were found to be abundant in New York City community gardens, where it is the most prevalent native bee species and visits various crop flowers.

Marianne E. Krasny, Keith G. Tidball · Cities and the Environment · Global

This paper discusses community gardens as heterogeneous environments that integrate environmental restoration, community activism, social interactions, cultural expression, and food security. They provide a context for learning that addresses multiple societal goals, including fostering a scientifically literate populace, practicing environmental stewardship, and participating in civic life. Using preliminary evidence from the Garden Mosaics intergenerational education program, the study suggests the potential for community gardens to foster multiple types of learning.

Cezary Kabała, T. Chodak, L. Szerszeń, Anna Karczewska, Katarzyna Szopka, Urszula Fratczak · Fresenius environmental bulletin · Poland (Wroclaw)

An analysis of 180 allotment garden soils in Wroclaw, Poland, found that concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn (12.5-659 mg Pb kg-1, 38.1-2103 mg Zn kg-1, 12.9-595 mg Cu kg-1) were influenced by industrial pollution sources, organic matter, pH, and macronutrients. Soils in gardens on former housing or industrial areas had significantly higher metal concentrations. Up to 35% of soils in the city zone were excessively contaminated, making them unsuitable for vegetable and fruit production and requiring reclamation.

M.R. Gorham, Tina M. Waliczek, Amy Snelgrove, Jayne M. Zajicek · HortTechnology · United States (Houston)

A pilot study in Houston, Texas, investigated the impact of 11 established community gardens on property crime numbers using 2005 crime data. Statistical comparisons between community garden areas and randomly selected city areas showed no statistically significant differences in the mean number of crime occurrences. The presence of a community garden was not found to be a predictor of a lower crime rate for a neighborhood.

XU Zengxian · Journal of Changjiang Vegetables · China (Wuhan)

The government of Wuhan, China, developed a plant protection and mechanical control team, supported by home construction projects, as urban agriculture developed. This study summarized the operational mode, safeguard measures, and achievements of Wuhan's plant protection and mechanical control service.

Bruno Martins Dala Paula, Ivana Cristina Lovo, José Delázaro Filho · Urban Agriculture Magazine · Brazil (Belo Horizonte)

This project in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, involved seven households sharing a community garden. Participating families collected household organic waste, with five families collecting 5 kg every 8-10 days. From March 25 to September 25, a total of 420 kg of organic waste was collected and used for collective compost production, which was then distributed to all garden members.

Emma Schroeder, Julie Schneider · · United States (Eagle Heights)

Julie Schneider's 2009 interview discusses her five years at the Eagle Heights Community Garden. She described vegetables grown, organic gardening, rules and restrictions, and tensions with the university, as well as changes in the community gardens since the early 1990s. This interview was conducted for a Master's thesis on the Eagle Heights Community Gardens.

Kanhaiya Sapkota · Geographical Journal of Nepal · Nepal

A study conducted between November 2005 and January 2006 in the Manahara river basin of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, interviewed 20 vegetable growers to investigate their knowledge and practices regarding local versus modern agricultural inputs. Farmers have intensified production using improved green revolution techniques, showing a link between scientific and indigenous knowledge. They also recognize the necessity of institutional extension support for proper input use.

Zhang Ya-guang · Guangdong nongye kexue · China (Tianjin)

This study analyzed the characteristics and strategic localization of Tianjin coastal urban agriculture. Tianjin coastal urban agriculture was shown to possess characteristics such as positional superiority, industrial fusion, multiplicity of functions, essential factor intensiveness, sustainable development, openness, and ecological protection. Its functions include strengthened economic function, consummated environmental protection ecology function, prominent radiation leading function, and developed social culture service function. Key forms include seedling source agriculture, green ecological agriculture, facility agriculture, processing agriculture, sea agriculture, port agriculture, and leisure sightseeing agriculture.

Heaven E Masashua, Frank George Haule Hawassi, Provident Dimoso · · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)

A study in Kinondoni Municipal, Dar es Salaam, examined the contribution of urban vegetable production to poverty reduction using 59 respondents. The study found that urban vegetable production increased income for smallholder farmers, improved food security, and enhanced access to health and education services. It concluded that urban horticulture has significant potential for poverty reduction.

Maria Gabriella Errico · · Europe

This study analyzed theories and concepts intertwining human activity with economic, social, scientific, and political aspects, driven by interest in solutions for maintaining agricultural landscapes in peri-urban areas. It investigated the landscape characteristics of territories between city and countryside that retain cultural historical signs. By synthesizing key challenges of peri-urban areas, the research aimed to identify design strategies for active conservation and transformation through agricultural park projects. The study proceeded to recognize the characteristics and critical issues of the peri-urban agricultural landscape.

Veronica Gaylie · · Global

This book chronicles the establishment of a campus learning garden involving student teachers and environmental education students. Despite starting with no funding, the project resulted in a transformation of attitudes towards nature, community, and the learning process. The book examines this process through metaphors of the garden as environment, community, and transformation, bridging theory and practice for ecology-centered teaching.

Sserunkuma Muhumuza, Kajenye Amadi · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Uganda (Kampala)

A study in Kampala slums, Uganda, investigated the impact of micro-finance support on urban agriculture expansion. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative analysis of financial records with qualitative interviews of farmers was used. Micro-finance support significantly increased average farm yields by 15% compared to baseline, and farmer confidence in economic strategies improved by 20 percentage points.

Yutaka Kudo · Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ) · Japan

This research examines the development processes of community gardens in Japan and discusses their "publicness" as public spaces. Japanese community gardens were introduced before WWII as a form of urban open space, similar to Kleingarten in Germany and Allotment in England. In the postwar period, they expanded quantitatively through the practical use of urban unused farmland, and are now provided from the perspective of urban environment and rural development. The publicness of community gardens in Japan has been intentionally shaped by various actors throughout their historical transition.

Amy Cutter‐Mackenzie · ePublications@SCU (Southern Cross University) · Australia

An Australian environmental education non-profit implemented the "Multicultural Schools Gardens" program in disadvantaged schools, using food gardening to teach culture, English as a Second Language, and environment. A combined methods research approach, including student self-research, interviews, and observations, was used to assess learning experiences. At one culturally diverse school with many migrant and refugee families, the program fostered a strong sense of belonging among students and provided opportunities for English language learning and environmental connection.

Jin-Woo Choi, Hag-Kee Kim, Kyong-Jae Lee, Hyun-Kyung Kang · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · South Korea

This study analyzed the economics and growth characteristics of native and imported ground cover plants in a new shallow soil rooftop gardening method, using 13cm soil thickness, on the rooftop of the Korean National Housing Corporation. The new method cost 45,000 won/m², which was 50% less expensive than existing methods. Native ground cover plants and some imported species showed increased cover rate, live weight, and dry weight, with improved growth, though some species required weed maintenance.

Alexandra Evans, Liqa Raschid-Sally, Olufunke Cofie · · Global

This chapter presents three case studies in which multi-stakeholder processes were used to improve wastewater management for urban agriculture. Although differences were observed, there were several cross-cutting lessons. A critical factor is the starting point, including an agreed definition of the problem to be addressed, negotiated goals, and a management structure acceptable to all stakeholders. When multi-stakeholder processes are externally initiated, it is essential that project priorities are commensurate with local priorities.

Mirane dos Santos Costa, Marivaine da Silva Brasil, Alberto Feiden, Adalgiza Inês Campolim · · Brazil/Bolivia

An exploratory study was conducted in the border cities of Corumbá, Brazil, and Puerto Quijarro/Puerto Suarez, Bolivia, to investigate the socioeconomic profile of Brazilian and Bolivian sellers of leafy vegetables at street fairs and their relations with urban farmers. The study aimed to identify the origin, production system of leafy vegetables, and the socioeconomic characteristics of these fair sellers and farmers, with preliminary results presented.

W.-L. Rao, Z.-K. Zhang, Runzhong Li · Plant Disease · China (Kunming)

In June 2007, sweet cherry trees with mottling and mosaic symptoms were observed in a private garden near Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Twenty-four samples from sweet cherry, sour cherry, flowering cherry, and peach trees in private and community gardens were tested for eight viruses by RT-PCR. Cherry virus A (CVA) was detected in two symptomatic sweet cherry trees, marking the first report of CVA in sweet cherry in China.

Wei‐Chao Jiang · Anhui nongye kexue · China (Hefei City)

This study investigated the urban agriculture park of Dawei Town in Baohe District of Hefei City, China, using site investigation, observation, and questionnaires. It expounded on the park's strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities through SWOT analysis and analyzed new problems under eco-tourism, proposing suggestions.