Research & reports

Eduardo de Lima Caldas, Martin Jayo · Confins · Brazil (São Paulo)

This article aims to contribute to the knowledge of contemporary urban agriculture policies and practices in São Paulo, Brazil. It traces the history of urban agriculture in the city since the 1980s and analyzes current practices resulting from this history. The analysis indicates that initiatives and policies in the sector have historically oscillated between two distinct modalities of urban agriculture: “scale urban agriculture” and “visibility urban agriculture.” These two modalities, resulting from different actor articulations and attributing different meanings to urban agriculture practice, still coexist in the city today, with the former generally located in peripheral areas and the latter concentrated in more central regions.

Deanna L. Wilkinson, Jan B. Carroll · Journal of Extension · United States

This article discusses inclusive scholarship through the involvement of community partners and youth participants from an urban gardening program as coauthors and copresenters of a poster at a community engagement conference. Including these participants helped Extension professionals reach a wider audience, deepen relationships, empower youth, and improve data quality.

Candace A Spencer, Catherine Campbell, Anna Prizzia, Liz Felter · EDIS · United States

This 11-page document provides an overview of key information required to establish an urban agriculture ordinance, offering guidance for Extension agents and interested citizens. It includes real-world examples from urban agriculture initiatives in Florida, detailing required activities, potential challenges, and beneficial partners. Resources related to the case studies and additional urban agriculture resources are provided at the end of the document.

Anne Cabell, Veronica Conti, Trent E. Johnson, Shelly Yu, Chris Akiba · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · United States

The Carolina Campus Community Garden (CCCG) aims to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for UNC's lowest-paid employees and serve as a learning community for gardening education. Currently, CCCG lacks a permanent land plot and sufficient ongoing funding, necessitating institutionalization within UNC to secure a permanent location, sustained funding, and increased utilization. A Capstone student team conducted formative research, including a literature review, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups with housekeepers, and surveys with students and administrators, to understand community needs and beliefs.

Rachel E. Mallinger, Anne Yasalonis, Gary W. Knox, Wayne Hobbs · EDIS · United States (Florida)

This 7-page fact sheet aims to conserve approximately 315 species of native wild bees in Florida. Published by the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department, it shows how gardeners and land managers can aid bee conservation efforts by planting flowers in home or community gardens.

Kimberly M. Ballare, John L. Neff, Rebecca Ruppel, Shalene Jha · Ecological Applications · United States

This study assessed bee community composition at 20 grassland and 20 agriculture sites across two US metroplexes over three time periods, identifying 172 species from nearly 13,000 specimens. It found that regional land use differentially impacted bee abundance and diversity depending on local habitat management. Local bare ground and floral richness were significantly related to multiple metrics of bee diversity.

Monika Egerer, Jacob M. Cecala, Hamutahl Cohen · Sustainability · United States (California)

This study compared the effects of local and landscape features on wild bee species abundance and richness in 19 gardens and 11 nurseries in California, USA. Local features such as floral richness and ground cover, and landscape features like impervious land cover, were assessed. In gardens, floral richness, local habitat size, and urban land cover impacted wild bee species richness, while in nurseries, floral richness and the proportion of native plant species impacted wild bee abundance and richness.

THAYZA DE OLIVEIRA BATITUCCI, Erika Cortines, Fábio Souto Almeida, Ângela Alves de Almeida · Ambiente & sociedade · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

This study analyzed the interactions of agricultural activities and the urban ecosystem through a literature review and a case study of an Urban Agriculture program in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It found that urban agriculture provides considerable ecosystem services, generates income, increases biodiversity conservation, and fosters social inclusion. The research concludes that urban agriculture functions as a mechanism for achieving equilibrium among the components of the urban ecosystem.

Isaiah O. Aridou, Nicholas Robert Alescio, Rachael E. Mair · Digital WPI · United States

This project assessed urban residents' preferences for green space in their communities to inform the Massachusetts Statewide Land Conservation Plan. Through eight case studies and surveys and interviews with urban residents, the study identified parks, community gardens, and walking paths as the top preferences. Recommendations included considering parking availability, utilizing NGO connections, and conducting more data collection for green space development.

Ryan E. Galt, Julia Van Soelen Kim, Kate Munden-Dixon, Libby Christensen, Katharine A. Bradley · Sustainability · United States (California)

A survey of 111 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in California, United States, analyzed factors influencing CSA member retention rates. The study used bivariate correlations and ordinary least squares (OLS) multiple regression models to examine variables across five domains: CSA management, farmer, farm, economic characteristics, and region. Findings led to recommendations for CSA farmers and supporting organizations, including increasing season length and crop diversity, incorporating fruit into shares, aligning practices with organic standards, reducing inter-CSA competition, and adjusting marketing regions in saturated areas.

Mark Pontious · Journal of College Orientation Transition and Retention · United States

This article reviews Novella Carpenter's book "Farm City," which details her experiences as an urban farmer in Oakland, United States. The book describes her journey from an abandoned lot to building an urban garden and raising animals, exploring themes of discovery, responsibility, and trial-and-error. It offers discussion points for first-year college students.

Samathryn Witham · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · United States

This Photovoice study, conducted over a 10-week youth summer program at an urban community garden, involved teenage photographers documenting their food experiences. The youth created a creative project and exhibit, using popular food media slogans to promote local food, defy stereotypes, and explore their identities as gardeners and media producers.

Amanda Rees, Bertram Melix · Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes · United States

The abstract mentions the establishment of the White House Kitchen Garden by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009, referencing Roosevelt's Victory Garden. It briefly notes the garden's extent compared to a previous First Lady's initiative.

Carrie Chennault, Laura Klavitter, Lynn Sutton · Social Sciences · United States (Dubuque, Iowa)

This article, co-authored by a university scholar and community gardeners in Dubuque, Iowa, USA, analyzes food, land, and housing issues in marginalized communities using extended conversations and interviews. The study applies a Political Ecology of the Body framework to understand how bodily, emotional, and social lives impact relations with food and gardening. Findings indicate that community gardening transforms the Washington and North End neighborhoods, though changes may seem small, and highlight ongoing anti-oppression and anti-racism work.

Justin Pierre, Victoria Fast, Jyothi Kumari, Claus Rinner · GI_Forum · Canada (Toronto)

Cartoforum is a map-based discussion forum developed using the Boundless geostack for crowdsourcing public planning ideas. This paper presents its software architecture and functionality through three pilot studies: cycle lane planning in Toronto, Canada, community garden site-selection in the Toronto region, and campus sustainability at the University of Kerala, India. These studies demonstrate Cartoforum's utility in argumentation mapping and its potential for citizen participation.

Yadeneyro de la Cruz Elizondo, Juan Camilo Fontalvo-Buelvas · Suelos Ecuatoriales · Mexico (Xalapa)

In an urban green area in Xalapa, Mexico, soil quality was evaluated prior to the implementation of a university garden. The soil was brown and sandy loam with poor aggregate stability and a bulk density of 2.52 g/cm3. Biologically, earthworm density was poor at 67.2 ind/m2 and the number of edaphic groups was poor at 5, though pH was optimal at 6.58 and organic matter was medium at 6.45%. Overall soil quality was assessed as moderate, indicating a need for an integrated soil management plan for improvement.

Joshua Sbicca · · United States (Colorado)

This study investigated the potential for urban agriculture to drive green gentrification, using Denver, Colorado, as a case study. Urban agriculture was shown to drive gentrification and act as a force for displacement, even when advocates are aware of its exclusionary potential for urban farmers and residents. The research argues that political economy and cultural forces create neighborhood disinvestment and economic marginalization, and urban agriculture contributes to green gentrification through a process of revalorization that exploits rent gaps.

Dirceu Pereira Siqueira, Mariana Peixoto Espósito, Bruna Caroline Lima de Souza · Revista de Constitucionalização do Direito Brasileiro · Brazil (Maringá)

This article aimed to analyze the right to food and related public policies in Brazil, with an emphasis on the Urban and Periurban Agriculture Program and the Community Garden Program of the City of Maringá / PR, examining their effectiveness as public policies for realizing the right to food. The methodology involved a bibliographic review and interview-based field research. It was concluded that the Community Gardens Program is effective as a public policy in realizing the right to food.

Jared T. McGuirt, Marilyn Sitaker, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Alice S. Ammerman, Jane Kolodinsky, Rebecca A. Seguin‐Fowler · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States

This study examined the sociodemographic and geospatial context of cost-offset community supported agriculture (CO-CSA) pickup locations in relation to low-income customer residential locations across 23 pickup sites in four U.S. states (New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington). Using GIS and interviews, it was found that pickup sites were an average of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from customers’ homes, further than the supermarket (2.9 miles or 4.7 km). Farmers reported efforts to select convenient locations, but CO-CSA customers expressed mixed levels of accessibility.

Angela Almeida Almeida · Esferas · Brazil

This photographic essay originated from participation in free classes offered by the "Horta Comunitária Nutrir" Community Garden Laboratory in Brazil, where research on Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANC) is conducted. The author learned about the plants, executed recipes, and took photographs. The work is based on the belief that when art and science converge, they bring together multiplicity-diversity and nature-culture, contained within the interconnection of images and the plurality of life's spheres.

Ana Paula Schmitz Rodrigues, Eunice Aita Isaia Kindel · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Porto Alegre)

This qualitative study, conducted with elementary school students in a public school in Porto Alegre, Brazil, aimed to raise environmental awareness through direct engagement in creating a school garden and separating solid waste. Student statements were recorded and categorized to understand their perceptions of solid waste, nutrient cycling, and food. The findings indicated students' detachment from the environment and highlighted the need for more interdisciplinary and continuous environmental education practices in schools.

Thomas Earl Tracy · ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University) · United States (Virginia)

This study investigated reasons for the low enrollment of African Americans in urban agriculture degree programs in Virginia, which contributes to few African Americans in leadership positions in the urban agriculture industry. Data were collected through surveys and interviews with agriculture students, non-agriculture students, and department chairpersons at Virginia State University and other colleges. The findings indicate a dearth of African Americans enrolled in these programs.

Tara Hubbard · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · United States (Spokane)

In Spokane, United States, city planners are exploring the potential of zoning ordinances to create healthier food environments in response to rising rates of obesity and chronic diseases. Some low- or mixed-income neighborhoods have limited access to healthy foods, and this brief provides specific guidance on utilizing zoning to increase access to farmers' markets, urban agriculture, and healthy food retail, while also limiting fast foods.

Paula Fernanda Nóvoa Souza Lara, Maria Mirtes Cortinhas dos Santos, Izaura Cristina Nunes Pereira Costa, Thiago Almeida Vieira · Amazonia Investiga · Brazil

This study analyzed scientific production on urban agriculture in Brazil from 2008 to 2017, using data from the CAPES Periodicals Portal. It observed that articles on urban agriculture remain scarce, despite the topic's social, environmental, and economic potential and relevance. The study suggests that state support for agricultural production in urban spaces could encourage the adoption of urban agriculture practices and related studies.

Suzanna Elkin · ScholarWorks -A service of University of Vermont Libraries (University of Vermont) · United States

This dissertation presents a mixed-methods case study of a comprehensive Farm-to-School (FTS) program in a northern California school district. It comprises three papers, each exploring one of the "3-C" domains: classroom, cafeteria, and community. The first study qualitatively examines teacher involvement in FTS, the second uses mixed methods to research a new school lunch program, and the third examines the community aspect.