Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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Critical findings
2091 results(50 / 84)
Agricultura urbana agroecológica: más de una década de trabajo de Facultad de Agronomía (Udelar) junto a diversos colectivos sociales
2018Beatriz Bellenda, Guillermo A. Galván, Margarita García, Inés Gazzano, V. Gepp, Gabriela Linari, Stella Faroppa · Agrociencia · Uruguay
The Faculty of Agronomy at the University of the Republic in Uruguay has implemented activities since 2002 to promote food production, social organization, and agroecological projects. This study analyzed these efforts over more than a decade using qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, censuses, and surveys. Findings indicated contributions to participant learning, food and nutritional security, healthy food production and consumption, and strengthened collective projects supported by the university.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareObstacles for school garden program success: Expert consensus to inform policy and practice
2018John Diaz, Laura A. Warner, Sue Webb, Debra M. Barry · Applied Environmental Education & Communication · Global
This study used a consensus-driven process to identify central issues impeding the sustained success of school gardens. It outlined practical, logistical, and institutional barriers that need to be addressed to ensure their success in supplementing education.
Governance failureFood educationPolicyCommunityUrban community gardens, commons, and social reproduction: revisiting Silvia Federici’s Revolution at Point Zero
2018Salvatore Engel‐Di Mauro · Gender Place & Culture · Global
This study discusses two concerns regarding urban community gardens' political potential, suggesting caution. It notes that the community in urban community gardens can be reactionary and capitalism-friendly, potentially impeding the collectivization of social reproduction if it remains largely women's work. Additionally, urban gardeners, primarily women, people of color, and the elderly, may face exposure to toxic substances and increased care work needs due to health effects.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyHealthEconomicsLearning Environment by the Future Society: Development of School Grounds in Lithuania
2018Liutauras Nekrošius, Indrė Ruseckaitė, Edita Riaubienė · Landscape architecture and art · Lithuania
This paper examines the educational function and development of schoolyards in Lithuania, noting that many have been "Forgotten Spaces" despite their potential for urban gardening and environmental education. The study found that most schools, built in interwar and Soviet periods, do not meet contemporary spatial needs. Since 2014, VGTU's Faculty of Architecture has facilitated discussions and alternative visions for school space changes, engaging youth in co-creation and maintenance of their environment.
Food educationCommunityDifferentWays of Environmental Issue Management by Active Citizens: Case Studies from Hungary
2018Adrienn Reisinger, Katalin Bándy · Managing Global Transitions · Hungary
This paper illustrated how active citizens in Hungary manage environmental issues through participation in local or national programs, using three case studies: a school garden program, the banning of a planned incinerator by local civic organizations in Szentgotthárd, and the citizen-managed litter collection campaign TeSzedd. The results showed that citizens can actively shape environmental issues, but the most important factor is their personal concern about these issues.
Food educationCommunitySustainability of Urban Community Gardens in Gweru -Zimbabwe: The Case of Senga Area
2018Henry Mabika · Research & Reviews: Journal of Social Sciences · Zimbabwe
This paper examines the sustainability of urban community gardens in the Senga area of Gweru, Zimbabwe, which have adopted a participatory approach. Residents are beneficiaries, the council is the landowner, and Care International provides technical and resource assistance. Data was collected through questionnaires from a convenient sample of residents and interviews with management from Care and Gweru city council. The project's sustainability is attributed to employment creation, food security, compatibility with household work, and a ready market for fresh produce.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCo-Creating community gardens on untapped terrain – lessons from a transdisciplinary planning and participation process in the context of municipal housing in Vienna
2018Rita Mayrhofer · Local Environment · Austria
A case study of the Roda-Roda pilot project in Vienna, Austria, demonstrated that community gardening can develop and persist even without favorable conditions for grassroots community gardens. Using an action research approach, an interdisciplinary project team implemented a spatial and socio-economic framework with a top-down approach, providing a stable basis for participatory community-building. This enabled gardeners to gain knowledge, skills, and self-confidence to run a garden and create a well-functioning local community.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsProject vital: Community revitalization industry report
2018Glynis Longhurst · Wintec Research Archive (Waikato Institute of Technology) · Fiji
The ViTAL project in Fiji aims to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by investing in women's health and well-being. This program supports community-based initiatives such as community gardens, healthy cooking classes, and walking groups, with the goal of increasing participation in physical activity and healthy eating across the community.
CommunityHealthWelfareO grupo operativo: horta comunitária na Atenção Básica
2018Jucilena Zeonara Feldmann Dias, Tatiane Feijó, Luiz Felipe Bastos Duarte · · Global
This paper discusses the community garden as a group technique in primary healthcare, emphasizing its role in health promotion and prevention. It highlights known benefits such as direct work with soil, self-realization from planting, and developing gardening skills, which help relieve stress and foster patience. The community garden also serves as a meeting point for sharing experiences, stimulating knowledge, and promoting global education and community organization.
CommunityHealthWelfarePerceived changes in well-being and happiness with gardening in urban organic allotments in Portugal
2018I. Mourão, Matthew Coreia Moreira, Telma C. Almeida, L. M. Brito · International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology · Portugal
This study evaluated the contribution of gardening to happiness and well-being in urban organic allotment gardens at Devesa Park in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. Sixty-five gardeners completed self-administered questionnaires, revealing that an increased frequency of visits for gardening was positively related to a greater perception of subjective happiness.
HealthCommunityOrganic cycleImplementación de una huerta escolar como herramienta estratégica para fomentar la investigación
2018Jose Martinez Carbonell · Cultura Educación y Sociedad · Colombia
A qualitative study involving twelve tenth-grade students and their parents at Jose Dadul Agroecological Technique IED in Colombia implemented a school garden as a research tool. The study found limitations during activity implementation, including lack of interest from parents acting as companions, insufficient space and time, and cessation of academic activities. Despite these constraints, it was possible to increase motivation for both parents and students through research and contemporary strategies.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityLa huerta escolar: estrategia pedagógica apoyada en las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación para el desarrollo de competencias investigativas
2018Vilma Beatriz Tanillama Jiménez · Cultura Educación y Sociedad · Colombia
This article presents results from using a school garden as a pedagogical strategy to improve students' investigative processes at IED Celinda Mejía López in Barroblanco - Magdalena, Colombia. Surveys revealed that a significant percentage of students lacked knowledge of basic school garden elements and research-related aspects.
Food educationCommunityMediterranean urban agriculture
2018Tal Alon‐Mozes, Efrat Eizenberg · · Global
This chapter examines Mediterranean urban agriculture (MUA) through case studies, challenging the traditional division between developed northern and developing southern countries. It argues that MUA is a distinct phenomenon characterized by the transfer of modern agricultural knowledge and policies from developed to developing countries, alongside a northward movement of people, crops, and traditional lifestyles from the south.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsUrban–rural linkageSemear para educar: potenciar o empoderamento e a cidadania com um projeto de educação não-formal de adultos
2018A. Silva, Clara Costa Oliveira · RepositóriUM (Universidade do Minho) · Portugal
A community intervention process "Semear para Educar" was implemented with adults, predominantly of Roma ethnicity, within an existing community garden project at a non-governmental institution in northern Portugal. This project utilized participatory action research methodology, aiming to contribute to the integral formation of individuals in this garden and consequently improve their quality of life through non-formal education.
CommunityFood educationDiseño de una herramienta virtual de aprendizaje sobre agricultura urbana: una propuesta de educación ambiental vinculada al programa de Servicio Social Ambiental (SSA) del Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis
2018Galvis Rivera, Andrea Natalia · · Colombia (Bogotá)
This paper proposes the development of a virtual educational tool to promote urban agriculture practices among students participating in the Environmental Social Service (SSA) program at the Bogotá Botanical Garden. The proposal follows a diagnostic instrument to characterize students' prior knowledge of urban agriculture, which has been a focus of Bogotá's development plans since 2004 to ensure food security and promote sustainable agriculture. The Botanical Garden leads environmental education processes with community actors and social service students.
Food educationFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityComparing urban food systems between temperate regions and tropical regions introducing urban agroforestry in temperate climates through the case of Budapest
2018Paloma Gonzalez de Linares · International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics · Hungary (Budapest)
This paper aimed to assess factors contributing to more successful integration of urban agriculture in some cities and to introduce agro-ecology practices in public green spaces and community gardens through landscape assessment and map-based comparison. A key problem identified was the lack of motivation among planners to integrate urban agriculture into urban plans, preventing these green structures from becoming part of the city's landscape and dynamics. The sustainability of food systems was concluded to depend on the city's planning strategy and governance policies.
Governance failureUrban–rural linkagePolicyCommunityClimate changeDiagnóstico de las condiciones de seguridad alimentaria de la población vulnerable del barrio Loma Linda (Altos de Cazucá) y sus estrategias de sostenibilidad
2018Palomino Forero, Pedro António · · Colombia (Soacha)
This project, led by students from Universidad Santo Tomas, focused on urban agriculture development in the Loma Linda neighborhood of Soacha, Colombia, to address food insecurity and malnutrition among displaced populations. It aimed to improve food security conditions through a diagnostic approach and by promoting community participation in urban agriculture. The project demonstrated that households could achieve self-sufficiency in vegetables, foster social networks, and reduce daily expenses, providing a first step towards resolving malnutrition and food insecurity in the community.
WelfareFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityUrban Agriculture in Bogotá’s informal settlements
2018Jaime Hernández García, Sandra Caquimbo-Salazar · · Colombia (Bogotá)
In Bogotá, Colombia, over 50% of the city has developed through informal practices, with approximately four million people residing in areas of urban or housing informality. This chapter explores the transformation and appropriation of urban spaces in the barrios through urban agriculture initiatives, using examples of food growing spaces in Bogotá. It discusses agricultural practices in the city's informal settlements, highlighting social characteristics and spatial particulars, and advocates for open spaces as potential productive landscapes where spatial transformations can contribute to social, cultural, and nutritional practices.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareUrban–rural linkageHealthThe Components of Social Dimension for Community Gardens in Housing Residential
2018Shafa Marzidah Abdullah Ayeop, Halmi Zainol, Nur Huzeima Mohd Hussain · Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal · Global
Community gardens are spaces for cultivating vegetables and fruits in urban neighborhoods, offering various social benefits. This paper aims to enhance understanding of the relationship between the social dimension and community gardens. It analyzes established references from previous articles and theses to identify social dimension elements of sustainable development and explore the benefits of community garden implementation for the social dimension.
CommunityHealthFrom field to plate: discussion on transfer of metals in food chain
2018Zane Vincēviča–Gaile, William Hogland, Māra Stapkēviča, Juris Burlakovs · Linnaeus Eco-Tech · Latvia
This study investigates the transfer of metallic elements in the soil-plant segment of the food chain through laboratory and field experiments. It also includes a quantitative analysis of food samples from Latvia, including fruits and vegetables from Riga city allotment gardens, to identify element composition and potential contamination risks from urban pollution. Results of experiments and analyses revealed the influence of factors such as seasonality, botanical origin, site-specific factors, agricultural practice, and food processing on element transfer.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityUnder the Microscope – Answer
2018Trevor A Lambkin · Metamorphosis Australia magazine of the Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club · Australia
This article discusses native bees, noting their weak jaws result in a tickle-like bite and that indigenous peoples globally have extracted their honey for various uses. Research into native bees for crop pollination began in 1984, leading to the development of hive propagation techniques by 1987. The keeping of native bees, particularly the subtropical Carbonaria species, has since gained popularity among various groups including schools and community gardens.
PollinatorsBiodiversityCommunityRedes alimentares alternativas e potencialidade ao desenvolvimento do capital social
2018Ronaldo Tavares de Souza, Eduardo de Lima Caldas · Estudos Sociedade e Agricultura · Global
Based on a systematic review of 45 articles, this study examined how alternative food networks can foster social capital development. The review identified five types of networks: own production, basket schemes, direct sales, community supported agriculture, and solidarity purchase groups. Reflection on observed examples indicated that groups formed by consumers showed the greatest potential for social capital development, followed by producer-started groups, basket schemes, and finally, production for self-consumption.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsCommunity Garden Programme: The Volunteers’ Satisfaction
2018Leelanayagi Ramalingam, Juwaidah Sharifuddin, Zainal Abidin Mohamed, Fazlin Ali · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · Malaysia
This paper aimed to identify volunteer satisfaction with the Community Garden Programme in Malaysia. A survey of 375 volunteers, using items adapted from Omoto and Snyder (1995), indicated that the majority were satisfied. Elderly males were found to be significantly satisfied with the program.
CommunityWelfareElderlyPlaying with mud- becoming stuck, becoming free? … The negotiation of gendered/class identities when learning outdoors
2018Katherine Mycock · Children s Geographies · Global
This paper explores how mud is used to form gendered and class-based identities among children aged 3–11 years old during outdoor learning. Ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in a school garden and two forest schools during the 2014–2015 school year. The research found that mud kitchens and waterproofs partly governed experiences by creating separations between bodies and mud, though children's encounters sometimes exceeded pedagogical functions, leading to resistances.
Food educationCommunityHealthSustainability at SIT: a Look at the Past, a Plan for the Future
2018Taliesin Haugh · School for International Training Digital Collections (School for International Training) · Global
This paper outlines a 5-year plan for the School for International Training (SIT) to enhance sustainability praxis, building on its 2018 student-led community garden project. The plan aims for SIT to become an experiential ecology center, collaborating with local NGOs and hosting permaculture programs, to address climate change and contribute to sustainable development.
CommunityFood educationClimate changeFood sovereignty & justice