Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2067 results(44 / 83)
A agricultura urbana e periurbana no município de Presidente Prudente -SP
2018Lucas Araújo Miranda, Rosângela Aparecida de Medeiros Hespanhol · Geografia em Atos (Online) · Brazil (Presidente Prudente)
This research investigates the characteristics and dimensions of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Presidente Prudente, Brazil, and how it can contribute to food and nutritional security through short commercialization circuits. The study involved a literature review, field research in local markets and supermarkets using structured scripts, and interviews with four urban and peri-urban farmers.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureWelfareMOVIMENTOS A FAVOR DA AGRICULTURA URBANA EM CURITIBA – PARANÁ E A CONSTITUIÇÃO DE PRÁTICAS DE ENSINO AMBIENTAIS/EDUCATIVAS
2018Ana Paula da Silva Rodrigues, Marcia Regina R. S. Zago, Nívea Gomes Nascimento de Oliveira, Lidia M. Lima, Eloy Fassi Casagrande, Maclóvia Corrêa da Silva, Alexandre Hüller · Educação Ambiental em Ação · Brazil (Curitiba)
This study identified the origins of urban gardens in Curitiba, Brazil, as a social movement for the appropriation of urban spaces and investigated their contribution to environmental education for urban sustainability through participation mechanisms and environmental education teaching practices.
CommunityFood educationPolicyClimate changeCase Study of the Roles and Characteristics of Community Gardens in Four North American Cities
2018Myung-Jin Shin, Jung‐Min Choi · Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture · North America
A preliminary field survey of 166 community gardens in Seattle, New York, Philadelphia, and Vancouver examined their spatial organization and social functions. The study found that community gardens in these North American cities perform diverse functions based on location, type, and societal needs. Specifically, 'uptown' gardens in Seattle and Vancouver focused on community participation, while 'downtown' gardens in New York and Philadelphia emphasized urban beautification.
CommunityPolicyEntre movimentos sociais e políticas de agroecologia urbana e na cidade de São Paulo
2018Lya Porto, Giulia Giacchè, Gustavo Nagib · · Brazil (São Paulo)
This article analyzes the interrelations between social movements and agro-ecological urban agriculture policies in São Paulo, Brazil. It examines three types of movements: the activities of urban farmers, the network formed by the São Paulo Urban Movement on Agro-ecology, and the actions of groups involved in political pressure and advocacy.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceProjeto CASA UFRJ – Comunidade Acadêmica que dá Suporte à Agricultura: uma experiência de aproximação entre produtores e consumidores na Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
2018Paula Fernandes de Brito, William John Hester, Tomé de Almeida e Lima, Lorena Monteiro dos Santos, Luísa Pinheiro, Jonathan Henrique da Silveira de Barros · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This paper reports on a 2016 pilot project at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) to structure a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative. The project involved farmers and the academic community, aiming to foster agroecological knowledge through weekly food basket deliveries. A key finding was the limitations in attracting diverse groups from the academic community, despite the interest shown by participating farmers, staff, and "prosumers."
Limited or null effectCSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsAVALIAÇÃO DAS POTENCIALIDADES PARA A AGRICULTURA URBANA NO ENTORNO DA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DA AMAZÔNIA (UFRA), MUNICÍPIO DE BELÉM (PA)
2018Laila Pacheco, Fabrício Khoury Rebello, Marcos Antônio Souza dos Santos, Paulo Fróes Júnior, Silvana Venâncio da Silva · Agrarian Academy · Brazil (Belém)
An analysis of urban agriculture potential was conducted in the Montese neighborhood of Belém, Brazil, through interviews with 40 residents from April to August 2018. The study found that 42.5% of respondents practiced urban agriculture, but the main limitation for its development was a lack of technical guidance and incentives. Broad partnerships involving community leaders, city hall, and universities are needed to overcome these technical, logistical, and infrastructure demands.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsDistribuição e dinâmica de ocupação socioespacial de iniciativas em agricultura urbana e periurbana do município de petrolina-pe, semiárido brasileiro
2018Lucas Ricardo Souza Almeida, Hélder Ribeiro Freitas, Ícaro Cardoso Maia, Rita de Cássia Rodrigues Gonçalves Gervásio, José de Alencar Peixoto Filho · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Petrolina)
This study mapped urban community vegetable gardens in Petrolina, Brazil, using GPS and ArcGis software to understand their distribution and socio-spatial occupation. Results showed fewer gardens in the city center, with the majority located in peripheral areas, predominantly on public land, especially in schools. More recent urban and peri-urban agriculture initiatives have been established on private land.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPeri-urban agricultureFood educationFarm Fresh Foods: What to Know About Growing and Selling Produce in Buffalo
2018Colleen Roberts · eCommons (Cornell University) · United States (Buffalo)
This document details local regulations for market and community gardens in Buffalo, including rules for selling produce. It provides tips for locating suitable sites for food gardens and outlines educational opportunities for growing and selling. Topics such as plant selection and soil safety are also addressed.
PolicyFood educationCommunityEconomicsKey Program Outcomes for K-12 School Gardens Identified Through Expert Consensus
2018Susan Webb, John Diaz, Catherine Campbell · EDIS · United States
This article presents results from a Delphi study, which is the first step in developing a comprehensive set of indicators for K-12 school garden programs. The study addresses the lack of an outcome-driven framework for support organizations, such as Extension, to evaluate the short, medium, and long-term outcomes of school garden activities.
Food educationCommunitySession J: Debating the inclusion of animals in the Urban Farming Movement in Detroit
2018Michelle Marie Proctor · · United States (Detroit)
Urban agriculture programs in Detroit have seen many urban farms begin to include animals, sparking policy and ethical debates. Supporters claim animals accelerate land remediation, fertilize and aerate soil, and improve petroleum-polluted soils. However, opponents point to problems such as botched slaughters and lack of animal welfare oversight, arguing that backyard animal husbandry should be regulated in the best interests of the community and animal welfare.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsGardener Well-Being along Social and Biophysical Landscape Gradients
2018Monika Egerer, Stacy M. Philpott, Peter Bichier, Shalene Jha, Heidi Liere, Brenda B. Lin · Sustainability · United States (California)
This study investigated the role of community gardens in providing human well-being benefits across three counties in the California Central Coast. Multiple aspects of self-reported gardener well-being were measured in relation to the social opportunities of surrounding neighborhoods and the biophysical features of the landscapes where gardens were embedded. The results documented improvements in gardener well-being through gardening across social and biophysical gradients. Gardeners were motivated by diverse reasons, including connecting to nature, improving food access, or enhancing time spent with family.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justicePiloting an observation tool for the Garden to Table Program to assess education of underserved youth in Omaha, Nebraska
2018A. Gargano · Graduate Medical Education Research Journal · United States (Omaha)
A pilot study was conducted in Omaha, Nebraska, to assess the effectiveness of The Big Garden's "Garden to Table" program, which teaches students in five Omaha Public Schools how to grow, harvest, cook, and preserve crops. A direct observation tool was developed and piloted at one site to record children's attitudes, knowledge, and behavior towards fruits and vegetables during lessons.
Food educationCommunityHealthWastescape : stitching the process of natural decomposition back into the public realm
2018Pei Yu · Digital Commons - RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) · United States (New York City)
This research explores waste management in New York City, the world's most wasteful city, seeking ways to bring waste back into the city and connect people with it. Phase I investigates the composition, quantity, and mobility of NYC's waste management, while Phase II focuses on organic waste and the potential of vacant lots in Lower East Manhattan. Phase III proposes a composting park on the East River, engaging residents in various stages of waste management, and aims to connect urban residents to collective waste and the biome's power to transform organic waste into soil, food, and a new life cycle.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityFood lossGreening a Food Desert
2018Ivana George · Journal of international women's studies · United States (Miami)
The documentary film "Greening a Food Desert" showcases Cerasee Farm, an inner-city farm in Liberty City, Miami, Florida, a neighborhood designated as a "Food Desert" by the USDA. The film illustrates how community member Roger Horne established this urban farm to provide residents with affordable produce, gardening training, and nutrition and environmental education. It also features stories from other community members about the farm's impact on their lives and the community.
HealthFood educationCommunityWelfareA importância da implantação de hortas escolares para desenvolvimento de estudos e interação da Agroecologia
2018Rafael Rosa Rocha, Elizangela Carniel, Crislaine Borges Raimundo, Kátila Freitas Bento, Willian Marques Duarte, Ana Cássia Silva Possamai · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This report details an agroecological vegetable garden project implemented for educational and food purposes in Nova Mutum - MT, Brazil. The project involved Agronomy students from UNEMAT and students from Jose Aparecido Ribeiro State School, providing a space for experience exchange, environmental discussions, and interaction through workshops on management techniques. The garden served as a sustainable alternative for healthy food production and demonstrated the importance of agroecological practices.
Food educationCommunityOrganic cycle“We’re Being Left to Blight”: Green Urban Development and Racialized Space in Kansas City
2018Chhaya Kolavalli · UKnowledge (University of Kentucky) · United States (Kansas City)
This dissertation, based on 26 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Kansas City, examines green urban development and urban agriculture projects from the perspective of residents in an African American majority neighborhood. It argues that dominant narratives of urban sustainability and agriculture, shaped by upper-middle-class white voices, support green development projects that marginalize and displace people of color and the poor. The study documents the lived consequences of these narratives and highlights resistance efforts by minority-led agricultural projects and neighborhood councils.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceSoil management is key to maintaining soil moisture in urban gardens facing changing climatic conditions
2018Brenda B. Lin, Monika Egerer, Heidi Liere, Shalene Jha, Stacy M. Philpott · Scientific Reports · United States (California)
A six-week study in summer 2017 in urban gardens in California, conducted with volunteer gardeners, examined how ambient temperature, water use, vegetation, ground cover, and soil management affect soil moisture gain and loss rates. The research found that plot-level soil management is essential for maintaining stable water levels within garden soils. Plots with better soil quality, indicated by higher water holding capacity, experienced slower rates of soil moisture gain after watering but also slower rates of soil moisture loss, resulting in more stable moisture profiles over time.
Climate changeOrganic cycleCommunityHEALTH ACTIVIST EDUCATION FOR BRAZIL
2018Rita de Cássia Gabrielli Souza Lima, Camila Gonçalves Labrêa, Marco Aurélio Da Ros, Adriana Grabner Corrêa, Paula Côrrea Souza, Liana Riveiro, Joelma Feliciano, Marina Goelzer Kieling · International Journal for Innovation Education and Research · Brazil (Itajaí)
This article reports on an extension project experience conducted in 2016 with elderly people from the Community Center for the Elderly in Itaipava, Itajaí city, Brazil, in partnership with a local Health Primary Care Unit and Local Health Council. Testimonies were dialectically analyzed using the category “We want to dance again, and we appreciate plants,” revealing symbolic pain over municipal resource cuts for monthly trips and balls, alongside a willingness to create a community garden. The involved sectors recognized the extension program as an effective class and a locus for developing praxis.
CommunityElderlyFood educationProjeto EcoViamão: Canoas e as hortas comunitárias na metrópole
2018Marcos Daniel Schmidt de Aguiar, Cláudio Fioreze, Danielle Grassi · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Porto Alegre)
This research, part of the EcoViamão project in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, Brazil, identified community gardens in the municipality of Canoas. Through data collection from public and private entities, bibliographic review, field visits, and extension action reports, an alternative form of urban agriculture was revealed, practiced collectively in socially vulnerable areas with a strong agroecological and food security bias. The study also analyzes possibilities for strengthening actions with the community and the mission of IFRS and the EcoViamão project for more sustainable regional development.
CommunityPeri-urban agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceFood educationZoonotic disease transmission associated with feral cats in a metropolitan area: A geospatial analysis
2018Sara J. Taetzsch, Andrea S. Bertke, Karen Gruszynski · Zoonoses and Public Health · United States (Richmond)
This study investigated the potential overlap between feral cat territories and human-frequented areas in the Richmond metropolitan area, Central Virginia, using GIS. From July to November 2016, 275 feral cats were trapped for TNR clinics. Findings showed that 8.0% of feral cats had the potential to range onto public elementary or preschool property, and 81.5% of those trapped in Richmond City could roam into public parks and community gardens, indicating a risk of zoonotic disease transmission.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityPRAÇA COLABOR[ATIVA]: NOVOS USOS DE ESPAÇOS PÚBLICOS URBANOSCOM PARTICIPAÇÃO POPULAR NO CONJUNTO HABITACIONAL ANA JACINTAEM PRESIDENTE PRUDENTE-SP
2018Juliana Cavalheiro Costa, Mayara Pisssuti Albano Vieira · COLLOQUIUM SOCIALIS · Brazil
This work aimed to gather knowledge on applying the placemaking concept to implement a community garden and orchard in an urban empty space within the Ana Jacinta Housing Complex in Presidente Prudente-SP, Brazil. The methodology involved bibliographic research on housing complexes, documentary research, and field surveys.
CommunityDIYPolicyCultivo comunitário para abastecimento local: o caso da Associação dos Produtores de Hortaliças da COHAB I de Lavras - MG
2018Janine Fernanda da Silveira, Maria Dalva Pereira, Suelen Ferreira Matoso Couto, Viviane Santos Pereira · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This experience report investigated the daily dynamics and existing agroecological practices of a community garden in COHAB I, Lavras-MG, Brazil, which originated from a city hall initiative. The garden became an association with approximately 50 members two years prior, and while it has made some progress in production methods and social organization, further capacity building is deemed necessary.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleHow to grow a city: cultivating an urban agriculture action plan through concept mapping
2018Wanda Martin, Lindsey Wagner · Agriculture & Food Security · Canada
In a Canadian prairie city, 66 participants used concept mapping and group discussions to develop an urban agriculture action plan. The plan consists of six concepts, with increasing food production in public spaces and improving education strategies ranked as both important and feasible. Participants stated that an integrated vision from city administration, along with a paid position to oversee bylaws and consider local food procurement systems, is necessary to advance urban agriculture.
CommunityPolicyFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceAntifungal Susceptibility of Candida Species Isolated from Horticulturists with Onychomycosis in Piauí, Brazil.
2018Mitra Mobin, Maria Walderez Szeszs, Juliana Possatto Fernandes Takahashi, Marilena dos Anjos Martins, Daise Damaris Carnietto de Hippólito, Jhonatas Cley Santos Porto, João Batista Mendes Teles, Sidney Gonçalo de Lima, Márcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem · PubMed · Brazil
A 2014 study in a community garden in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, investigated the antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolated from horticulturists with onychomycosis. Samples were identified using phenotypic methods, MALDI-TOF MS, and PCR, and their susceptibility to four antifungal drugs was determined. All isolated Candida species were found to be sensitive to the tested antifungal drugs, with no resistance observed.
HealthCommunityComida de Verdade
2018Fernanda Maciel Mendes Costa, Ana Paula Leite Fabrini, Tânia Vital, Aline Neves Costa, Tatiana Perassolo, Rodrigo Borghezan · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This experience report describes the introduction of Unconventional Food Plants (PANC) into a school environment in Campo Grande, Brazil, through culinary workshops for staff and lectures for students. The initiative aimed to promote healthy eating and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases. As a result, Taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) was included in the public call for supply to municipal schools, ensuring frequent PANC consumption for approximately 1100 students.
Food educationHealth