Research & reports

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.

Rachel Helling · · Global

This study is a Teaching and Learning Department capstone project that warrants the need for community gardens in low-income communities.

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.

In-Kyoung Hong, Young Chae, Sang-Mi Lee, Young-Bin Jung · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

This study aimed to improve the diversity of urban gardens by identifying suitable crops from "Gwanhyuji," an agricultural book from the Joseon Dynasty. Fifty-three crops were selected based on traditionality, historicity, health functionality, and popularity, and their properties were evenly distributed. The study suggests that applying traditional knowledge to urban agriculture can transform urban gardens into resources offering educational and traditional values, thereby enhancing their diversity and utility.

Putri Lynna A. Luthan, Yogi Nikman, Hasanatun Nisa Hasibuan, Jaka Prima Albertus Malau · JURNAL PENGABDIAN KEPADA MASYARAKAT · Indonesia (Medan)

In Medan, Indonesia, a verticulture urban farming training program was implemented in Lorong Sidodadi, a densely populated area with limited green space (5.6% of the city). The program targeted non-productive housewives and involved five stages: preparation, socialization, training, mentoring, and evaluation. Participants reported positive responses, aesthetic, thermal, psychological, health, and economic benefits, and reduced vegetable purchases. However, the activity faced issues with rat pests and children's activities.

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.

Mahantayya V Math, Yashoda R Kattimani, Manjusha M Padhye · Indian Journal of Community Medicine · India (Ahmadabad)

This study points out the impact of wastewater use in urban agriculture on the incidence of diarrhea in Ahmadabad, India. Vegetables grown with wastewater have an increased risk of internalization of food-borne bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella into edible plant parts, posing a serious health risk. Contaminated water, soil, poor hand hygiene, and improper handling are sources of bacterial contamination for vegetables and fruits.

Bessie M. Burgos, Henry Custodio, Shun-Nan Chiang, Anna Gale C. Vallez, Elson Ian Nyl Ebreo Galang, Maria Katrina R. Punto, Leila S. Africa, Blesilda M. Calub · · Philippines

The School-Plus-Home Gardens Project (S+HGP) was implemented in six pilot schools in Laguna province, Philippines, through a collaboration of SEARCA, UPLB, and DepEd. This project focused on nutrition, education, and economic well-being by providing school garden harvests for school feeding programs and establishing food gardens in children's homes. The S+HGP demonstrated the multi-functionality of school gardens as learning laboratories for sustainability, food and nutrition, organic agriculture, climate change, and solid waste management.

Anelise Pillon Ortiz, Lilian Regina Lengler Abentroth, Polliana Radtke dos Santos, Edna Linhares Garcia, Suzane Beatriz Frantz Krug · RBONE - Revista Brasileira de Obesidade, Nutrição e Emagrecimento · Global

This narrative literature review aimed to identify the results of implementing vegetable gardens in school environments and analyze their impact on children, adolescents, and family life. Out of 28 analyzed articles, 13 answered the research question. The study concludes that school gardens have positive repercussions on the lives of children and adolescents, directly influencing food behavior, fostering environmental awareness, improving school performance, and enhancing social interaction and quality of life for those involved.

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.

Ian Siddons Heginworth, Gary Nash · · United Kingdom (London)

This introduction provides an overview of a book discussing an eighteen-week environmental arts therapy pilot group for adult mental health clients. The book explores themes related to hostile mothering and connections to nature, and considers trauma-informed environmental arts therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome. It also describes the Community Outdoor Art Therapy Service (COATS) in London, which uses urban parks and community gardens.

Odiney Alvarez‐Campos, Gregory K. Evanylo · Journal of Environmental Quality · Global

The impacts of exceptional quality (EQ) biosolids and inorganic fertilizer applied for rehabilitating anthropogenic soils on potential nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) water quality impairment risk were compared. After two years, reclamation rates of biosolids resulted in soil P saturation ratios greater than the recommended 30% but lower than the 65% limit. While nitrate N (NO3–N) posed the greatest nutrient leaching risk, lysimeter-collected mass loading of NO3–N from reclamation rates was not greater than for the inorganic fertilizer.

Ranjan Datta · Local Environment · Global

This study explored the concept of sustainability among First Nations, visible minorities, and non-visible minorities through cross-cultural activities in a community garden setting, using a relational participatory action research (PAR) process. It argues that cross-cultural activities, such as dance, music, children’s art, anti-racist workshops, traditional story-sharing, land-based learning, and cross-cultural food sharing, can create positive change in an urban environment by empowering communities through cross-cultural bridging.

John Wakhanu, Hudson Nyambaka, Judith Kimiywe, Mildred Nawiri, Wilson Thagana · Journal of Food Science and Engineering · Kenya (Machakos County)

This study in Kangundo and Kilalani primary schools, Machakos County, Kenya, investigated the impact of African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables (AILVs) on children aged 6-10 years (N=66 in Kangundo, N=46 in Kilalani). Over two phases (13 and 12 weeks), an experimental group consumed AILVs from school gardens, while a control group did not. Endline analysis showed that the experimental group had significantly higher (p < 0.001) % Fat Free Mass, mean serum iron, and zinc levels compared to the control group.

Simon Woodward · · Global

This chapter contextualizes environmental arts therapy within the urban clientele’s relationship to nature, exploring how it facilitates connections through myth, metaphor, and art-making. It synthesizes theoretical models of Environmental Arts Therapy and Five Ways to Wellbeing, which underpin the Community Outdoor Art Therapy Service (COATS). Three COATS therapeutic workshops, including monthly sessions in a community garden, are explored as illustrations of deepening participants' connection with nature.

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.

Bianca Jacqueline Silva · · Brazil

This study describes a project for implementing a community garden at the Itabira campus of the Federal University of Itajubá. The project began with dialogue among campus workers and aims to foster greater involvement with the university community and local population. The garden is planned as a space for observation, cultivation, and leisure, potentially contributing to education and activities on ecology, environmental education, and integrated management of solid and organic waste, with positive impacts on the local environment and participants' health.

Alfan Prianggara, Gunanti Mahasri, Abdul Manan · Journal of Aquaculture and Fish Health · Indonesia (Surabaya)

A survey in Surabaya, Indonesia, investigated water quality and endoparasite prevalence in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from urban farming floating cage programs. Water quality parameters were measured, and average endoparasite prevalence was 5.71% for Eimeria spp. and 8% for Acanthogyrus spp. The study found positive correlations between water clarity, ammonia, and DO with Eimeria spp. prevalence, and between temperature, pH, nitrate, and nitrite with Acanthogyrus spp. prevalence, indicating a link between water quality and parasite infection.

Lemi Gonfa · · Africa

This paper reviewed the role of urban agriculture in socio-economic and environmental sustainability in Africa, drawing on theoretical and empirical literature. While urban agriculture is recognized for job creation, improved diet, and environmental benefits like urban greenery and biodiversity, challenges such as difficult land access, lack of experience, financial support, training, and credit facilities, as well as low land productivity, animal grazing, and theft, were identified. These factors present potential negative externalities and hinder the development of urban agriculture.

August John Hoffman, Jordan Seitz, Anthonie Collins, Rich Downs · Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community · United States

This study describes the experiences of two community psychology students participating in "green" volunteer sustainable programs. One student worked with young men in a youth detention facility maintaining a vegetable garden, while another organized a community apple harvest in Wyoming, MN. Participants were interviewed about their subjective experiences and how these programs improved understanding of diverse cultures and the value of outdoor "green" voluntary programs.

Michal Shur‐Ofry, Ofer Malcai · Regulation & Governance · Israel

This study investigated whether Institutions for Collective Action (ICAs), using community gardens as a case study, exhibit dynamics of social contagion and diffuse in accordance with patterns prevalent in self-organized complex systems. Quantitative methods derived from the field of complexity were applied to measure the temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal diffusion of community gardens in the city of Jerusalem. The results suggest that the spread of community gardens in the urban space displays patterns of self-organization and social contagion.

Obinna Elijah Nworie, Junhao Qin, Chuxia Lin · Toxics · Global

This study investigated trace element uptake by wild herbaceous plants at a multiple trace element-contaminated site. It found significant variability in bioaccumulation and translocation factors among plant species, identifying some as hyperaccumulators for specific elements. The marked accumulation of trace elements in plant tissues suggests that the site may not be suitable for urban agricultural production.

Fábia Massarani, Marta Citelli, Daniela Silva Canella, Josely Correa Koury · PeerJ · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

This pilot study evaluated the eating habits of 83 adolescent athletes in an experimental school in Rio de Janeiro from 2013 to 2016. Following the implementation of a school garden, experimental kitchen activities, and health promotion classes, the frequency of raw salad and fruit consumption increased, suggesting that integrated healthy eating promotion programs may improve eating habits.

Pepijn Schreinemachers, Mamounata Sandaogo Ouedraogo, Serge Diagbouga, Amadou Thiombiano, Serge Rodrigue Kouamé, Caroline Makamto Sobgui, Hsiao-pu Chen, Ray-Yu Yang · Journal of Development Effectiveness · Burkina Faso

A repeated cluster randomized controlled trial in 30 schools with 1,760 schoolchildren (8–14 years old) in Burkina Faso evaluated the impact of school vegetable gardens combined with nutrition education. The study found a small but significant increase in knowledge of sustainable agriculture (+5.0%) and food/nutrition (+6.6%). However, there was no significant increase in other outcome indicators, including fruit and vegetable consumption.

Jennifer Kent, Susan E. Thompson · · Australia

This chapter reviews the link between the built environment and eating habits, noting that where people live and work influences food types and prices. It examines how urban planning in Australia supports local food production to encourage healthier eating. This support includes protecting peri-urban agricultural lands and promoting food cultivation in community gardens, verges, and homes.