Research & reports

Varvara V. Ponomareva · Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta Seria XXIII Antropologia) · Russia

This study, using a historical typological method, examined the gardens of girls' boarding schools within the Mariinsky Establishment in 18th-century Russia as a vehicle for children's healthy physical upbringing. Influenced by scholars like John Locke, innovative physical education principles, supported by the Russian state, were integrated into the daily life of boarding schools. By the end of the 19th century, doctors oversaw school outdoor spaces, noting the positive effects of fresh air exercise and swimming on children.

Eric Schwamberger, Adrian José Ramos, Alicia Weber, Eduarda Nunes, Emile de Lima Pollheim, Gabriela Santos Patriarca, Giovana Schwamberger, Isadora Bombassaro, Jamily Assini, Vitor Gomes, Kassia Kathellyn Barboza, Roberta Hoepers Mascarenhas, Rossie Katherine dos Santos, Samuel Carvalho de Matos-Filho, Vinícius Verwiebe, Tatiane Sueli Coutinho · Anais da Mostra Nacional de Iniciação Científica e Tecnológica Interdisciplinar (MICTI) - e-ISSN 2316-7165 · Brazil

A community garden with medicinal herbs serves as an excellent tool for study and environmental awareness for students involved in the project and the wider academic community, as well as for internal and external communities utilizing the accessible herbs. In this project, beds with various medicinal herbs, including ora-pro-nobis, mint, basil, horsetail, boldo, alfavaca, aloe vera, lemon balm, and lemongrass, were created and maintained. The project aims not only to provide natural treatment to the community but also, importantly, to raise awareness about the harms that excessive use of allopathic medicines can cause to metabolism.

Ángela Barrón Ruíz, José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Spain (Salamanca)

This proposal combines university teaching with social responsibility through service learning, aiming to integrate environmental education for sustainability into schools in Salamanca, Spain. Following a pilot project and the establishment of a network of community school gardens, the pedagogical validity of this training approach has been demonstrated over six academic years for both university and school students.

Mun Gi Hong, Bo Eun Nam · Journal of Character Education and Research · South Korea

This study analyzed the suitability of G National University's campus as an educational site for ecological and character education for elementary students. The campus had a green space ratio of approximately 40% and 120 woody plant species. However, vulnerabilities in plant diversity were identified, including a bias towards certain species like oak and azalea, and multiple species concentrated in small numbers. A critical finding was the overlapping flowering and fruiting seasons for most species, which could negatively impact the ecology of wild animals like insects and birds that rely on these resources.

Gina Patricia Suárez‐Cáceres, Víctor M. Fernández‐Cabanás, José Lobillo-Eguíbar, Luis Pérez‐Urrestarazu · Aquaculture International · Spain

This study aimed to determine the profile and motivations of aquaponic producers, the characteristics of facilities, and production performance in Spain and Latin America. The average producer is a middle-aged man, motivated primarily by producing high-quality, healthy food, environmental concern, and autonomy. Facilities were mainly for education, self-consumption, and hobbies, many located on rooftops, adapting well to urban agriculture. Generally, there is a lack of proper knowledge and expertise to efficiently operate these complex systems.

Helda Morales, Bruce G. Ferguson, Kimberly Chung, Ronald Nigh · Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente · Mexico (Chiapas)

This study explored the potential and limitations for agroecological scaling through formal educational structures, using the LabVida school gardens program in Chiapas, Mexico as a case study. Through training, educators gained an appreciation of agroecology and applied practices in their school gardens, although their understanding of agroecological principles and scientific process remained limited. The program's greatest impact was on educators’ eating habits and their perception of the value of local knowledge and its relevance to schoolwork.

Karen Botes, Christina Breed · Acta Structilia · South Africa

This article reviewed three edible living wall case studies in Gauteng, South Africa, focusing on system resilience, economic feasibility, and edible plant possibilities. Interviews were conducted with clients, contractors, and designers. Findings suggested indirect commercial value through customer experience and educational value, but indicated that economic feasibility and resilience need enhancement for improved urban food production.

Olga Domené-Painenao, Francisco Herrera · Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente · Venezuela

In Venezuela, the Bolivarian Revolution since 1999 has seen the unfolding of harsh class and food system contradictions. While the Program Degree in Agroecology (PDA) at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela has trained over a thousand graduates who contribute to agroecological scaling and urban agriculture, the abstract highlights the persistent "harsh class and food system contradictions" within the country. This indicates ongoing equity challenges despite agroecological efforts.

Christy Gene Somsen · Digital Commons - USU (Utah State University) · United States (Utah)

Farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, and community gardens, while aiming to help low-income families access fresh produce, often assist more middle-class families. In Utah, these programs could be improved, as the state does not utilize the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program or accept WIC Cash Value Vouchers, and has few Farm to School Programs.

Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia

This textbook, "STEM Education in the Primary School," introduces pre-service teachers to STEM theory, skills, and practice via a project-based learning approach. It integrates STEM elements with the Australian Curriculum using a school garden project case study and explores popular STEM topics with age-appropriate examples. The text connects current STEM education research to teaching practice, supported by questions, information boxes, and real-world scenarios.

Novisrayani Kesmayanti, Abdul Aziz · Journal of Community Service · Indonesia (Palembang)

This community service activity (PKM) in Palembang, Indonesia, addressed challenges faced by PKK RT 19 RW 05 community members, including limited yard space and farming knowledge. The program provided education, technology transfer, demonstrations, and assistance for independent hydroponic urban farming. The activity successfully helped community members maximize the use of narrow yard spaces, transforming them into productive environments for family food supply through hydroponic cultivation.

Rahmi Winangsih, Rahmi Mulyasih, Marthalena, Rethorika Berthanilla, Ahmad Sururi · Bantenese - Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Cilegon)

This paper reports on an empowerment communication program within an urban farming initiative targeting women in Kampung Lukis Ramanuju, Cilegon City, Indonesia. The program aims to empower women to meet family and community food needs by cultivating high-economic-value crops like vegetables and fruits. As a result of the mentorship, the participating group became capable of producing crops for personal consumption.

Tuti Kusumaningsih, Rini Devijаnti Ridwаn, Sidarningsih Sidarningsih · Jurnal Layanan Masyarakat (Journal of Public Services) · Indonesia

In the Maesan and Sumberwringin sub-districts of Bondowoso Regency, Indonesia, community groups lacked knowledge and information regarding the health benefits, economic value, and cultivation of ciplukan (Physalis angulata L). To address this, the Community Service Team of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Airlangga, designed an activity to provide counseling and promote ciplukan as a medicinal plant, offer information on its health benefits and cultivation, and distribute ciplukan plants as an initial step. This activity received a very good response from the local community.

Joshua Amponsem, Nathalie Sänger, Marie-Claire Graf · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · Global

This chapter presents youth perspectives on opportunities and barriers for green urban transformation (GUT) in urban centers. It highlights best-practice examples from Germany and Ghana to promote self-sufficient urban food production and zero-waste communities. The discussion focuses on overcoming barriers through youth governance, a post-COVID green recovery pathway, and making GUT knowledge accessible to young people.

Anne Forbes, Vinesh Chandra, Linda Pfeiffer, Rachel Sheffield · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Australia

This textbook, "STEM Education in the Primary School," introduces pre-service teachers to STEM theory, skills, and practice using a project-based learning approach. It integrates STEM elements with the Australian Curriculum through a school garden project case study, exploring topics like health, shelter, and space with age-appropriate examples. The text connects current STEM education research to teaching practice, covering assessment, learning spaces, and community.

Dhian Rosalina, Yenni Marnita, Nasrul Kahfi Lubis, Fiddini Alham · SELAPARANG Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Berkemajuan · Indonesia (Langsa)

This community service activity provided training in Gampong Baroh Langsa Lama, Langsa Aceh city, to 30 day laborers on utilizing household organic waste to create compost blocks for planting media. The training involved socialization, practice, and evaluation, aiming to transform waste into useful products for urban farming. As a result, 50 percent of partners expressed willingness to practice making compost blocks and be periodically evaluated.

Yumin Park, Yong-Wook Shin · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global

A study analyzed the trends and network structure of 'grow-your-own (GYO)' activities by collecting 6,388 Instagram posts containing '#gyo' and '#growyourown' hashtags from June 13, 2020, to April 13, 2021, using social network analysis. The results showed that users expressed preference and interest in GYO through various word combinations, positive emotions and pride through gardening-related hashtags, and participated in urban gardening, indicating trends towards self-sufficiency and sustainable living.

Caitlin K. Kirby, Kathrin Specht, Runrid Fox-Kämper, Jason K. Hawes, Nevin Cohen, Silvio Caputo, Rositsa T. Ilieva, Agnès Lelièvre, Lidia Poniży, Victoria Schoen, Chris Blythe · Landscape and Urban Planning · Europe; United States

This study quantitatively assessed motivations and social impacts across different urban agriculture types using survey data from 74 sites in Europe and the US. It identified four scales: general wellbeing, nutritional health, economic interests, and socialization motivations. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in motivations and reported impacts across urban agriculture types. Participants with stronger economic interests, socialization motivations, or who were plot owners/operators reported greater general wellbeing impacts.

Hyung-Suk Kim, Kyu‐Won Kim · Land · South Korea

This study examines sustainable landscapes in traditional Korean houses of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) by investigating urban agricultural practices in the palace, private houses, and an imaginary garden called Uiwon. It discusses the definition and range of urban agriculture, agricultural methods, and the principal agents involved in gardening, comparing traditional and modern South Korean housing environments.

Fauzian Gilang Prananda, Sumeru Ashari · Jurnal Produksi Tanaman · Indonesia

A randomized complete block design trial at 550 m elevation on the rooftop of the Central Building, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia, grown from June to September 2019, compared production of five melon (Cucumis melo) varieties (Melindo-15, Gracia, Madesta, Action, Glamour), measuring female flower count and timing, leaf count, plant length, stem diameter, fruit weight and fruit reduction with ANOVA and 5% BNJ follow-up tests. Growth and fruit yield differed among varieties, with Melindo showing the best production potential.

Chong Ling Chan, Pui Yee Tan, Yun Yun Gong · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · Global

This record is a systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of school garden-based programs on nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among school children aged 3 to 18; no abstract text is available for this content beyond that description, so no further findings can be reported here.

Harefan Arief, Mochamad Soelton, Eko Tama Putra Saratian, Tafiprios Tafiprios, Astrid Puspaningrum, Mugiono Mugiono · ICCD · Indonesia

A 2021 report on a community service activity in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic delivered one month of online entrepreneurship education and training to a youth organization (Karang Taruna). Focused on marketing organic hydroponic vegetable urban farming products via information-technology-based programs, the training aimed to build participants' entrepreneurial knowledge and skills; the activity reportedly increased the youth group's creativity and motivation and produced a connection model for microenterprise entrepreneurship.

Louise Mitchell, Lawrence Houston, Michael Hardman, Michelle Howarth, Penny A. Cook · Cogent Social Sciences · Global

Against the backdrop of health services becoming stretched, particularly in ageing populations in the Global North, this paper discusses Green Infrastructure (GI) interventions including the development of social farms in urban areas and deprived communities. Social farms use farming practices as spaces for therapeutic outcomes such as care, rehabilitation, and education, framed within the concept of social prescribing alongside community gardens and urban farms as non-medical approaches. Noting that social farming and social prescribing research is currently concentrated in Scandinavian countries and the USA, the paper focuses on increased UK attention to the concept, including in DEFRA's 25-year Environment Plan. Findings show an agglomeration of social farming sites in rural rather than urban contexts, and the paper discusses tools and barriers for urban development of the practice.

Daniel Remley, Glennon Sweeney, Julie Fox, Laquore Ja Meadows · Journal of Human Sciences and Extension · United States

U.S. Cooperative Extension is positioned to address suburban food insecurity, citing data that low-income populations in the country's largest metro-area suburbs grew twice as fast as in primary urban cities between 2000 and 2013, and that a 2018 Pew Research Center report found poverty rising more sharply in suburbs than in urban or rural counties. Stigmatization of food assistance, lack of transportation, limited access to food pantries and limited community gardens are identified as challenges specific to suburban poor communities, with Extension proposed to address the problem through community-engaged research and education across family and consumer sciences, community development, agriculture and natural resources, and 4-H youth development.

M. G. Morshed, SB Rahman, MA Rahman · Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources · Bangladesh

A survey conducted in Sadar upazila, Bogura district, Bangladesh, found that 66% of rooftop gardeners and 70% of homestead gardeners cited producing healthy, fresh food as their reason for gardening. Rooftop gardens contained about 80 plant types and homestead gardens 87, comprising fruits (97%), vegetables (86%), spices (72%), flowers (64%), medicinal plants (64%), ornamentals (23%) and plantation crops (12%). Time invested ranged from under 30 minutes to about an hour a day. Only 28% of homestead gardeners had received training from government agencies or NGOs, while most rooftop gardeners learned from agriculture-focused television programs, and just 18% of rooftop gardeners and 24% of homestead gardeners gardened primarily for economic return.