Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
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Integrative Garden Therapy and Promoting Education for Sustainable Development – An IGT/ESD Program for Children as Part of a Community-Supported Agriculture Initiative
2026Johanna Ruh · Open MIND · Global
This study connects Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) with Integrative Garden Therapy (IGT), demonstrating how combining both approaches can deepen and expand ESD. A concept for IGT/ESD units for children aged 6-10 within a Community-Supported Agriculture framework is presented. The concepts of multiple alienation, ecophilia, ecosophy, and integrative cultural work are particularly highlighted.
Food educationHealthCSA & TeikeiCommunity“We are all Human Beings That Deserve the Same Opportunities as Everyone Else”: Immigrant Perspectives on Health in Southeast Minnesota: A Photovoice Study
2026Abby M. Lohr, Jazlyn Vargas-Robles, Gladys B. Asiedu, Yahye Ahmed, Hana Dirie, Luz Molina, Graciela Porraz Capetillo, Josh Schachter, Mark L. Wieland, Irene G. Sia · Health Promotion Practice · United States (Minnesota)
This Photovoice study in Southeast Minnesota, US, conducted in fall 2023, collaborated with 14 Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters to document their health-related assets and needs. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: healthy choices, inclusion of people and cultural celebrations, and access to opportunity. Participants desired expanded community garden programming, environmental protection, accessible healthy options, access to culturally appropriate foods, and increased access to jobs, affordable housing, and healthcare.
CommunityHealthWelfareA IMPORTÂNCIA DAS HORTAS AGROURBANAS COMO INSTRUMENTO DE SAÚDE BÁSICA: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
2026Giovane Sampaio dos Santos, Yuri César Miranda Soares, Guilherme Alves Barroso Araújo, Lorena Oliveira Pereira, Daniel Viana Ferreira, Mariana Aragão Machado Santos Neves, Vanilson Furtado Pereira, Sandra Regina Cardoso Vitorino · Revista Tópicos. · Global
This integrative literature review analyzed recent scientific evidence on community gardens as a tool for promoting basic health, focusing on articles published in Portuguese over the last five years. The review found that community gardens offer benefits related to physical and mental health, food security, strengthened social relations, environmental preservation, income generation, and urban space revitalization.
CommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceUrban farming, poor households, and family food security: A study in metropolitan cities in Indonesia
2026Sugeng Harianto, Refti Handini Listyani, Dewien Nabielah Agustin, Rizky Trisna Putri, Ahmad Farhan Ridwan · Multidisciplinary Reviews · Indonesia (Surabaya)
A six-month mixed-methods study in Surabaya, Indonesia, involving 150 low-income households (75 urban farming, 75 non-farming), found that urban farming enhances dietary quality, stabilizes food availability, and reduces vulnerability during economic stress, while also strengthening neighborhood ties and improving mental well-being. However, its adoption is constrained by spatial limitations, financial barriers, inadequate technical knowledge, and sociocultural stigma, limiting participation among vulnerable groups.
Food sovereignty & justiceWelfareCommunityHealthBelo Horizonte’s Right-to-Food Model
2026Hoyoon Jung · The International Journal of Social Sustainability in Economic Social and Cultural Context · Brazil (Belo Horizonte)
This study analyzes Belo Horizonte, Brazil's right-to-food model, which has reduced hunger and promoted social equity through integrated food policies like subsidized food programs and urban agriculture. Despite its successes, the model faces challenges in policy sustainability, financial constraints, and political continuity, and the study notes limitations including reliance on secondary data.
Governance failureFood sovereignty & justicePolicyHealthEconomicsA systematic review of community gardens and their role in urban food security and resilience
2025Huq F.F., Deacon L. · Discover Sustainability (Springer), 6:696 · Global
A systematic review of 37 studies examining how community gardens affect food access, urban resilience, and community well-being, with research interest peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies inequitable access and weak policy integration as key barriers and calls for inclusive, interdisciplinary, long-term planning.
CommunityFood lossPolicyHealthEconomicsCowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) landraces in Mozambique and neighbouring Southern African countries harbour genetic loci with potential for climate adaptation
2025Macharia M.W., Caproni L., Solemanegy M., Takele R., Chiulele R.M., Munisse P., Amane M., Pè M.E., Buizza R., Dell'Acqua M. · Communications Biology 8:834 · Africa
Genotypes 389 cowpea accessions (mostly landraces) from Southern Africa and identifies 36 genomic loci linked to local climate adaptation, highlighting the breeding value of farmer-conserved resources.
Heirloom & landraceBiodiversityHealthUrban Agriculture Interventions in Refugee and Immigrant Communities: A Scoping Review
2025Langerman S., Juarez N., Magan I. M. · Journal of Urban Health 102:857-871 · Global
Scoping review of 42 studies (1990-2024) on urban agriculture interventions for refugees and immigrants, identifying five domains (well-being, physical health, ecological, economic, sociological), with social outcomes most common.
WelfareCommunityHealth都市と地域をつなぐ「BRANZ オーナーズファーム」開始
2025東急不動産株式会社, 株式会社マイファーム · 東急不動産 プレスリリース資料 · Japan
Tokyu Fudosan launches an agriculture experience project for Branz owners in Higashimatsuyama using solar-sharing farmland, an official developer-led rental-garden initiative linking resident food education, exchange, and regional revitalization.
CommunityEconomicsHealthContribution of natural capital to quality of life of urban-to-rural migrants in Japan
2025Takahashi Y., Yoshida T., Johnson B.A., Shigeto S., Yamagata Y. · Sustainability Science (Springer) · Japan
Uses structural equation modeling on national survey and geospatial data to demonstrate the relationship between urban-to-rural migrants' quality of life and natural capital (farmland, greenspace), providing evidence for the effectiveness of rural in-migration policy.
HealthPolicyGlobal Health as Vector for Agroecology in Collective Gardens in Toulouse Region (France)
2025Wilkens J., Mombo S., Dumat C. · Urban Science · France (Toulouse)
Examines 11 years of collective urban gardens in the Toulouse region through the lens of global health—encompassing human well-being, soil health, and interspecies interactions—as a driver of agroecological transitions among gardeners.
CommunityHealthBiodiversityOrganic cycleImpact of home gardens promoted among urban residents in Dhaka, Bangladesh
2025Schreinemachers P., Kumar S.S., Uddin M.N. · Food Security · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Panel data from 679 households across four Dhaka metropolitan city corporations shows that promoted urban home gardens significantly improved vegetable production and consumption, with 85% of participants being women.
HealthFood educationEconomicsUrban Agriculture for Post-Disaster Food Security: Quantifying the Contributions of Community Gardens
2025Liu Y., Chanse V., Chicca F. · Urban Science (MDPI), Vol. 9, No. 8, Article 305 · New Zealand (Wellington)
This study quantifies Wellington, New Zealand's community gardens' capacity to meet post-disaster vegetable demand in terms of weight and nutrient content, finding current gardens insufficient alone but identifying substantial potential through expanded urban agriculture land use.
CommunityFood educationHealthPolicyMeasuring community power: A scale to measure collective self-determination, Embodied Earth Care, and Ubuntu among urban farmers and gardeners
2025Ashley Gripper, Tori Cowger · Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development · United States
Using exploratory factor analysis on 363 respondents recruited from U.S.-based agricultural networks, this study developed a survey-based scale to capture what Black- and Brown-led food justice organizations value most about community farming and gardening. The analysis supported a five-factor structure—termed "Agricultural Community Power" (AgCPS), covering collective self-determination, community care, land-based spiritual wellbeing, embodied Earth care, and Ubuntu/interdependence—with adequate reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93).
CommunityHealthPolicyCan Reuse of Stormwater Detention Pond Water Meet Community Urban Agriculture Needs?
2025Estenia Ortiz, Adriana Mayr Mejia, Emma Borely, Liam Schauer, Lena Young Green, Maya Trotz · Sustainability · United States (Tampa)
Motivated by a community's desire to co-locate community gardens with stormwater pond spaces, this study monitored water quality of a 23.4-hectare stormwater detention pond in East Tampa, Florida over one year and compared it to US EPA reuse recommendations and water quality criteria. pH and conductivity were acceptable for irrigating crops and heavy metals were below maximum reuse levels, but E. coli concentrations exceeded irrigation requirements and synthetic organic compounds exceeded human health criteria.
CommunityOrganic cycleHealthA culturally tailored community gardening approach to improving physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and psychological health among African American women: A pre-post feasibility study
2025Imani Canton, Vanesu Jakachira, Dawn Blackman, Heather Rose, Susan Aguiñaga · Health Promotion Perspectives · United States (Champaign, Illinois)
This 8-week pre-post feasibility study tested a culturally tailored community gardening intervention—embedding Black History Knowledge—among 11 middle-aged African American women in Champaign, Illinois, in summer 2023. Participants significantly increased device-measured daily step count (median +880 steps/day) and fruit and vegetable consumption (median +82 units), with smaller effects on physical activity and perceived stress. The authors conclude the intervention may be a feasible way to improve physical activity, produce intake, and psychological health, though larger, adequately powered studies are needed.
CommunityHealthPerceived Benefits and Barriers of Gardening Among Urban Older Adults: A Chinese Perspective
2025Lin · Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology · China
A study examining the perceived benefits and barriers of gardening among urban older adults from a Chinese perspective.
ElderlyHealthEnvironmental factors influence airborne microplastic deposition in the soil of urban allotment gardens
2025Amato-Lourenço L., Bertoldi C., van Praagh M., Rillig M. · Environmental Pollution · Germany (Berlin)
Investigated vertical distribution of microplastics over 90 days in three Berlin allotment gardens; fibers dominated and peaked in surface layers, with deposition increasing with precipitation and PM2.5 and decreasing with wind velocity.
HealthNon-sterile substrate cultivation of oyster mushrooms on fresh Giant Juncao Grass: a scalable strategy for sustainable nutrition in underdeveloped regions
2025· Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · Global
Proposes a low-tech, non-sterile cultivation method growing oyster mushrooms on fresh Giant Juncao grass. Presents it as a scalable, low-cost strategy for sustainable nutrition in resource-poor, underdeveloped regions.
DIYCommunityHealthA narrative review on the potential reuse of greywater for irrigation in crop production: pros and cons
2025· Sustainable Water Resources Management · Global
Narrative review of greywater reuse for crop irrigation, summarising treatment advances and positive and negative effects on postharvest quality, and the need for proper treatment to reduce heavy metals and microbial loads.
DIYHealthImpact of School Gardens on Nutrition Education Among Limited-Income Communities in Alabama
2025Sanchez · Journal of School Health · USA (Alabama)
A study examining the impact of school gardens on nutrition education among limited-income communities in Alabama.
Food educationHealthGrowing third places: A qualitative study of experiences and perceived benefits of a campus community garden as a nature-based health intervention
2025Brooks O., Thanganathan R., Gittings L. · PLOS One · London, Ontario, Canada
A qualitative study of a Canadian campus community garden found four themes among staff, students, and faculty: the garden as a 'third place', connection to nature, empowerment through growing food, and community building.
CommunityHealthQualitative Evaluation of a Garden-Based Healing and Learning Program for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
2025Kim D., Park E., Yun H., Baek Y., Jin H., Cho H. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · South Korea
A qualitative evaluation of a garden-based healing and learning program for young adults with intellectual disabilities found changes including emotional, social, physical, and independence-related healing.
WelfareHealthGreen Social Prescribing: A Before and After Evaluation of a Novel Community-Based Intervention for Adults Experiencing Mental Health Problems
2025Darcy · Health & Social Care in the Community · England, United Kingdom
A before-and-after cohort evaluation of nature-based interventions delivered via green social prescribing referral across English 'test and learn' sites, comparing participants' mental health and wellbeing outcomes.
HealthWelfareCommunityUnderstanding community garden volunteers' well-being transformation: an exploratory study from a liminality perspective
2025· Leisure Studies · Global
Conceptualizes community gardens as liminal spaces, showing that volunteering suspends everyday roles and opens avenues for psychological and emotional reorientation and well-being transformation.
WelfareHealthCommunity