Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2012 results(53 / 81)
When Allotment Gardens Become Urban Green Spaces like Others, Providing Cultural Ecosystem Services
2017Amélie Robert, Jean Louis Yengué · Environment and Ecology Research · France
This case study investigated the Bergeonnerie allotments in Tours, France, through in situ observations, user surveys, and interviews with municipal stakeholders. It found that these allotments provide not only provisioning services like food but also cultural ecosystem services, serving as a source of well-being for gardeners and a place for walking, sociability, and education for other people. Municipal stakeholders confirmed these broader benefits, indicating allotments offer more than just vegetable cultivation.
CommunityFood educationHealthBiodiversityThe multifunctionality of urban farming: perceived benefits for neighbourhood improvement
2017Melissa N. Poulsen, Roni Neff, Peter J. Winch · Local Environment · United States (Baltimore)
This qualitative case study in Baltimore, Maryland, explored community perceptions of how urban farms benefit neighborhoods. Interviews with residents, neighborhood leaders, and urban farmers in three residential neighborhoods revealed that benefits stemmed from the creation of public projects, physical improvement of degraded spaces, local food production, and new businesses. These changes led to perceived benefits such as increased social connectedness, a transformed physical landscape, improved neighborhood reputation, and enhanced access to fresh produce, demonstrating the importance of a multifunctional paradigm beyond traditional economic indicators.
CommunityHealthFood educationEconomicsLow-income adults’ perceptions of farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture programmes
2017Elizabeth W. Cotter, Carla Teixeira, Annessa Bontrager, Kasharena Horton, Deyanira Soriano · Public Health Nutrition · United States (Washington, DC)
This study conducted focus groups with 28 adults in three affordable housing communities in Washington, D.C., USA, to understand low-income adults' attitudes towards participating in farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and nutrition education programming. The results revealed that adults living in urban, affordable housing communities desire access to healthy foods but are limited by cost. Programs could have a higher likelihood of success if they accept benefits like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), are heavily marketed, and incorporate culturally relevant nutrition education components.
Equity & displacementCSA & TeikeiWelfareEconomicsCommunityFood educationStudent-Led Farmers Market: Engaging, Real-World Experience And Nutrition Education That Prepares Students For A Successful Professional Life After High School
2017Rebecca A Hennessey · Digital Commons - Hamline (Hamline University) · United States
This capstone project proposes a curriculum that supports a student-led farmers market program for high school students. The curriculum provides garden and nutrition education through a fully-functioning farmers market run entirely by students, offering them real-world experience.
Food educationCommunityPendampingan Masyarakat Dalam Pengelolaan Sampah Organik Skala Komunal Untuk Mendukung Implementasi Program Urban Farming
2017Reni Amaranti · ETHOS (Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengabdian) · Indonesia
This community service activity provided assistance to communities in Indonesia to manage organic waste at the local Rukun Tetangga (RT) level. The aim was to support urban farming programs by addressing the uneven spread of knowledge and low public participation in waste utilization. The activity focused on helping communities utilize their existing potentials and resources for waste management.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityFood educationInch by inch: Making our gardens grow
2017Rita Beck Neal, Nanci Weinberger · Bryant Digital Repository (Bryant University) · Global
School garden programs have a long history of success, primarily in elementary schools. Child care centers are well-suited for gardens due to year-round operation, but teachers often lack familiarity with gardening and plant science. Obstacles to implementing gardens in child care environments include teachers' unfamiliarity, concerns about messy outdoor settings, and strenuous labor.
Food educationCommunityCOMMUNITY GARDENS AND ECOLOGICAL CITIZENSHIP: THEIR POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS IN FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTALISM
2017Michael Kennedy · OpenSIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) · Global
Community gardens can serve as important local greenspaces to address environmental degradation and educate individuals about the importance of food and the environment. However, certain barriers need to be overcome and addressed before community gardens are successfully implemented. Participation and interaction within community gardens may provide a pathway to long-term commitment to sustainability, encouraging individuals to adopt more environmentally supportive behaviors and a deeper commitment to environmentalism.
Governance failureCommunityFood educationBiodiversityClimate change도시생물다양성 증진을 위한 생태공원 관리방안 연구 - 고양생태공원을 대상으로
2017위사양, 문보희, 김선영, 오충현 · 한국환경생태학회 학술발표논문집 · South Korea
This study aimed to derive urban forest creation and management plans considering urban biodiversity enhancement for Goyang Ecological Park in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The research analyzed the park's current status using SWOT analysis, reviewed domestic and international cases, and conducted a GAP analysis to derive strategic directions and management plans. Proposed measures include re-zoning internal spaces, enhancing connectivity between ecosystems, promoting biodiversity through artificial management, and indirectly enhancing biodiversity through environmental education.
BiodiversityFood educationCommunityPolicySOSIALISASI PENANAMAN DENGAN METODE HYDROPONIK DI KECAMATAN SAGULUNG
2017Muhammad Solihin · MINDA BAHARU · Indonesia (Batam)
This community service program in Sei Pelungut, Sagulung District, Batam City, Indonesia, aimed to promote urban farming and educate residents on hydroponic cultivation methods due to high vegetable prices. Using a descriptive qualitative method with observation and interviews, the program involved introducing hydroponic growing media, seedlings, planting techniques, and harvesting times. The community, particularly women from Kavling Flamboyan, showed high enthusiasm and participation in the activities.
Food educationCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDIYGrowing Green: Urban Gardening
2017Emilee Bell · ScholarsArchive (Brigham Young University) · Global
Carol Hand’s book "Growing Green: Urban Gardening" weaves a history of gardening with practical application, inviting readers of all ages to introduce gardens into their lifestyles. The book explains global gardening traditions and future trends, emphasizing the many benefits of gardening, new vocabulary, and do-it-yourself methods. It discusses community, school, home, and personal garden options, as well as strategies for combating challenges urban dwellers might face, such as pollution, space, and vandals.
DIYFood educationCommunityHealthExamining the Relationship Between Level of Participation in Community Gardens and their Multiple Functions
2017Jaime M. Booth, Darren Chapman, Mary L. Ohmer, Kai Wei · Journal of Community Practice · Global
This study surveyed 115 regular, occasional, and non-community garden participants in a disadvantaged neighborhood to examine the relationship between participation levels and health behaviors, psychological well-being, and community perceptions. Regular and occasional participants reported better mental health. Occasional participants reported higher vegetable intake, while regular participants reported a stronger sense of community.
CommunityHealthFood educationSchool gardening in Bhutan: Evaluating outcomes and impact
2017Pepijn Schreinemachers, Bal Bdr, Desang Dorji, Hsiao-pu Chen, Thinley Dukpa, Namgay Thinley, Passang Lhamo Sherpa, Ray-Yu Yang · Food Security · Bhutan
A study in Bhutan investigated the combined effect of school gardens, complementary lessons, and promotional activities on the eating behavior and nutritional status of 468 schoolchildren aged 9-15. Data from 9 control and 9 treatment schools using a randomized controlled trial design showed that the intervention significantly increased children's awareness of vegetables, knowledge of sustainable agriculture, and preferences for healthier foods. There was an 11.7-percentage point increase in the probability of children including vegetables in their meals, but no change in the number of different fruits or vegetables consumed.
Food educationHealthCommunityCorrelating the urban agricultural and academic success. A research project to examine effects of agriculture-based youth programs on high school academic performance
2017Geneva Rawlins · · United States (Gary, Indianapolis)
This study aimed to examine how three urban agriculture programs in Gary and Indianapolis, United States, impact high school students' academic performance and future goals. Questionnaires were used to collect qualitative data from program leaders, organizational partners, and upper-class students. Due to low participant levels, there was insufficient data to draw definitive conclusions regarding academic performance. However, the study captured a snapshot of positive attitudes among student participants and identified commonalities among the programs.
Food educationCommunityWelfareInvolving Extension in Urban Food Systems: An Example from California
2017Lucy Diekmann, Rob Bennaton, Jessica Schweiger, Cole Smith · Journal of Human Sciences and Extension · United States (California)
This article illustrates how Extension in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, develops urban agriculture programming and engages in food-system-related partnerships. The Extension practice in this metropolitan region aligns with research findings on local food system involvement, focusing on educational opportunities and collaborative work with community and government partners. This case study provides insights for Extension personnel designing urban food system programs.
Food educationCommunityPolicyHealthEconomicsExploring potential community gardens in Thessaloniki
2017Rachel Lee Swanson · Digital WPI · Greece (Thessaloniki)
This project in Thessaloniki, Greece, aimed to understand the impact of community gardens and identify potential new sites, given the city's loss of green space due to urbanization and fiscal crisis. It found significant potential for community gardens but noted a lack of citizen awareness. The study suggests outreach campaigns could engage individuals with their communities by informing them about garden benefits.
CommunityPolicyFood educationSchool Gardens: A Qualitative Study on Implementation Practices
2017Nele Huys, Katrien De Cocker, Marieke De Craemer, Marleen Roesbeke, Greet Cardon, Sara De Lepeleere · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · Belgium (Ghent)
In four primary schools in Ghent, Belgium, twelve interviews with 14 key members and five focus groups with 38 children (fifth to sixth grade, 10-13 years old) were conducted to investigate school garden implementation practices and perceptions. School gardens were primarily initiated to involve children in nature, not to improve vegetable consumption. Participants were positive about school gardens but also experienced various barriers, including difficulties with startup, maintenance during summer holidays, and integration into the school curriculum.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityHealthFarm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK): An innovative community supported agriculture intervention to prevent childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthen local agricultural economies
2017Rebecca A. Seguin‐Fowler, Emily H. Morgan, Karla L. Hanson, Alice S. Ammerman, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Jane Kolodinsky, Marilyn Sitaker, Florence Becot, Leah M. Connor, Jennifer Garner, Jared T. McGuirt · BMC Public Health · United States
Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) is a community-based, randomized intervention trial designed to assess the impact of subsidized community supported agriculture (CSA) coupled with nutrition education to prevent childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthen local agricultural economies. Conducted in New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington, the study targets low-income families with children aged 2-12 years. Primary outcomes include children's intake of fruits and vegetables, sugar and fat, and diet quality, with data collected over three years.
CSA & TeikeiHealthWelfareEconomicsFood educationImportancia de los productos agrícolas del grupo hortofrutícola en la alimentación de poblaciones vulnerables
2017Blanca Rosa Restrepo de Peña, José Elvis Sierra Borras, Nubia Esperanza Suárez Suárez · CITAS · Colombia
This descriptive and interpretive study, using Participatory Action Research with 62 randomly sampled families in Loma Linda neighborhood, Soacha, Colombia, investigated urban agriculture's role in addressing food needs and improving family income. The study identified an extremely poor population with an average family income of 252,000 pesos, 49.9% aged 60+, 70% with primary education, and 30% illiteracy. Analysis showed that 50% of basic fruit and vegetable needs could be met through rudimentary but efficient community urban agriculture, leading to the production of family consumption products and commercializable surpluses.
WelfareEconomicsFood educationCommunityChanging children's eating behaviour - A review of experimental research
2017Patricia DeCosta, Per Møller, Michael Bom Frøst, Annemarie Olsen · Appetite · Global
This review of 120 experimental studies on children's eating behaviors found that controlling strategies for positive change appear counterproductive. Hands-on approaches like gardening and cooking programs may encourage greater vegetable consumption more effectively than nutrition education. Providing children with free, accessible fruits and vegetables was experimentally shown to positively affect long-term eating behavior.
Food educationHealthPersonal Narratives Changing Student Understandings of Community-based Academic Programs
2017Isabel Verhille · Scholarship @ Claremont (The Claremont Colleges) · United States (California)
A Media Studies Senior Thesis from the Claremont Colleges in California, USA, focuses on two community programs: the Spanish Practicum program at Pitzer College and Huerta del Valle, a community garden in Ontario. The project comprised a photographic essay on personal experience in the Spanish Practicum, an article on the program's history, and an interview with the founder of Huerta del Valle and a student participant. These personal narratives were presented as a webpage to explore their communal significance in constructing a shared understanding of community-based academic programs.
CommunityFood educationFor the Love of Land and People: An Evaluation of The Food Project as an Empowering Youth Development Program
2017Emily Walls · DigitalCommons-Macalester (Macalester College) · United States (Boston)
The Food Project, a youth development and urban agriculture organization in the Greater Boston area, demonstrates effective empowerment by successfully creating safe spaces, engaging youth in meaningful work, and providing them with confidence and skills to effect change. This study analyzed program structures through youth experiences to evaluate empowerment and personal growth.
Food educationCommunityWelfareCreating Environmental Awareness among Children: Swachh Bharat Mission Perspective
2017Manisha Wadhwa nee Dabas · · India
This research studied Class III and V primary school children in India, sensitizing them to environmental awareness and cleanliness through classroom activities like observing school gardens and recycling. It found that environmental consciousness can be developed among primary school children. A common reason for littering was the unavailability of garbage bins in schools, and the study noted the school's role is limited within a larger social context.
Food educationCommunityThe New Sacred Farm
2017Gretel Van Wieren · Worldviews Global Religions Culture and Ecology · United States
This paper explored religious approaches within the food and faith movement in the U.S. by examining the work of three religious, community-based farming projects. These projects are characterized by ritual practices and narrative tropes as they address social, ecological, political, and ethical challenges posed by current food systems. The study concluded that these religious farms should be considered sacred spaces for how they ritualize and symbolically interpret agricultural and food practices.
CommunityFood educationCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceSafe food facts for community gardens
2017Marisa Bunning, M. Newby · Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University) · United States (Colorado)
This document provides practical tips for community gardeners to ensure the safety and quality of food grown in community gardens. It emphasizes proper garden management and handling of fresh produce to maximize the benefits of growing one's own food.
CommunityFood educationPERANCANGAN HIPOTETIK SMART GARDENPADA LANSKAP FAKULTAS PERTANIAN UNIVERSITAS LAMPUNG
2017Muhammad Arif · · Indonesia
This study aimed to plan the implementation of a smart garden concept on the landscape of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung campus. The smart garden was proposed as a facility for learning about science and technology. The concept generated themes including a forest garden for the Dean's Building area, agroforestry for the Forestry Department Building area, a homy garden for the Seed Laboratory area, a nursery for the Postgraduate Building area, aquaponics for the Fisheries and Marine Department Building area, urban farming for the Agricultural Engineering Department Building area, and hydroponics for the Agrotechnology Department Building area.
Food educationUrban–rural linkageCommunity