Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
385 results(7 / 16)
Productive Blue-Green Roofs for Stormwater Management
2022Kristiina Valter · Green Energy and Environmental Technology · Global
This paper describes productive blue-green roofs for stormwater management, highlighting features important for sustained environmental benefits. It explains that blue roofs use retention layers to delay or retain stormwater, and combining them with green roofs allows for growing edible crops, offering synergistic benefits. The paper presents case studies and testbeds of various blue and green roof sublayer combinations with edible and non-edible plants, considering design parameters and monitoring systems.
DIYClimate changeOrganic cycleRooftop gardening in the globe: advantages and challenges
2022Md. Abdul Quddus · Horticulture International Journal · Global
This review study investigated the scenario, advantages, and challenges of rooftop farming in urban communities. Rooftop gardening provides fresh, nutrition-rich food for urban dwellers, serves as an alternative land use, improves the urban atmosphere, and offers household recreation. Previous research indicates that insight and consciousness of roof gardening enrich wellbeing, social value, and enjoyable farming for building residents.
DIYCommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceEffects of Plant Spacing with Companion Plants on Growth and Fruit Quality of Cherry Tomatoes
2022Byoung-Kwon Lee, Hyung-Kwon Yun, In-Kyoung Hong, Young-Bin Jung, Sangmi Lee, Sang-Deok Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global
This study investigated the effects of French marigold, zinnia, spearmint, and basil as companion plants at 10, 20, and 40 cm spacing on cherry tomato growth and fruit quality. Statistical differences were found in stem thickness and total number of fruits per plant, but not in plant height, total fresh weight of fruits, sugar content, fruit hardness, or vitamin C. Stem thickness decreased when spearmint and basil were planted at 20 cm or 40 cm compared to the control, and only zinnia at 40 cm increased the total number of fruits per plant.
DIYFood educationOrganic cycleEffect of Substrate Type and Fertilizing Management Programs on Yield and Nitrate Content of Both Molokhia and Spinach Grown on Rooftops in Egypt
2022· Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research · Egypt
Two experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 on a rooftop garden in Giza, Egypt, to investigate the effect of substrate type and fertilizing programs on molokhia and spinach yield and nitrate content. Substrate S1 (50% perlite: 50% peat moss) was found more suitable for high yield. While chemical nutrient solution (CNS) alone resulted in the highest yield, the combination of S1 and CNS followed by compost tea for 5 days before harvest (CNS+5) was most suitable for high yield with lower nitrate accumulation.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleHealthEffects of Agrivoltaic Systems on the Surrounding Rooftop Microclimate
2022Jerome Wei Chiang Teng, Chew Beng Soh, Shiddalingeshwar Channabasappa Devihosur, Ryan Hong Soon Tay, Steve Kardinal Jusuf · Sustainability · Global
This study investigated the effects of agrivoltaic systems on rooftop microclimates and PV efficiency. ENVI-met simulations showed that PV temperatures in plots with crops below the PV system were 2.83 °C lower on sunny days and 0.71 °C lower on cloudy days, leading to a 1.13–1.42% and 0.28–0.35% improvement in PV efficiency, respectively. Data from a physical prototype indicated that evaporative cooling reduced ambient temperatures, with the agrivoltaic system generating 3.05–3.2% more energy daily compared to a control without crops.
Climate changeDIYOrganic cycleDigital agriculturePlantifa: Antifascist Guerrilla Gardening Curriculum
2022Brandon Edwards-Schuth, Marco Cerqueira · Northwest Journal of Teacher Education · Global
This paper suggests that an anti-fascist guerrilla gardening (Plantifa) curriculum provides educational opportunities for community activism. It utilizes anti-fascist, decolonizing, and eco-justice frameworks to connect learners with their communities, local ecosystems, history, and permaculture. The curriculum involves mapping local terrain, identifying plants, and considering food-bearing plants for community needs.
DIYCommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceGrowth performance of water spinach Ipomoea aquatica and freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii grown in aquaponic and hydroponic units
2022Zeba F. Alam, Karen Avena, Lorenzo Sales, Denise Suemith, Riane UY · Indian Journal of Fisheries · Global
This study attempted to optimize aquaponics culture conditions for water spinach and freshwater prawns, comparing their growth performance in soil, aquaponics, aquarium, and hydroponics units. Water spinach showed significant growth in the aquaponics setup compared to hydroponics, but less than in soil units. Freshwater prawns also recorded significantly higher growth in the aquaponics unit compared to the aquarium unit.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureUrban Agriculture as an Alternative for the Sustainable Production of Maize and Peanut
2022José Luis Villalpando, Daniel Francisco Chi-Maas, Itzel López‐Rosas, Víctor Ángel Aquino-Luna, Jesús Arreola-Enríquez, Julia Cristel Alcudia-Pérez, Gilberto Matos-Pech, Roberto Carlos Gómez-García, Jesús Froylán Martínez-Puc, William Cetzal‐Ix · Agriculture · Global
This study evaluated a backyard system using 50cm × 50cm pinewood boxes for maize and peanut over nine months. Approximately 213 kg of organic residues were converted into 300 kg of mature compost, and plant development was compared between compost and control conditions. Correlation analyses of morphological properties showed that nutrient effects were positively associated with crop morphology, with maize yields of 9 kg/m2 in compost conditions and 6.6 kg/m2 in control, and peanut yields of 184 g/m2 in compost and 73 g/m2 in control.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleLow-Cost Smart Indoor Greenhouse for Urban Farming
2021· Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2021 (LNCS) · Global
Presents the design of a low-cost smart indoor greenhouse to cultivate herbs and vegetables with minimum human intervention, monitored by a web application. It builds on IoT-based monitoring systems for indoor micro-climate horticulture.
DIYEconomicsOptimization of Bokashi-Composting Process Using Effective Microorganisms-1 in Smart Composting Bin
2021· Sensors · Global
Optimizes bokashi composting of household organic waste in a smart composting bin, fermenting banana peels with EM-1 brans over 14 days while sensors log temperature, humidity and moisture.
DIYCompostDesign and Implementation of an LED Automatic Lighting System for Plant Factories
2021· IEEE Photonics Journal · Global
Design and implementation of an LED automatic lighting system for plant factories that provides automatic dimming and multi-band colour mixing, adjusting light intensity and colour to plant needs to increase crop yield.
DIYEconomicsAssessing Reliability of Recycled Water in Wicking Beds for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
2021· Earth · Australia
Assesses the reliability of using recycled water in wicking beds, described as a simple system that can provide high yield and water use efficiency, for sustainable urban agriculture.
DIYHealthEvaluation of Lettuce Growth, Yield, and Economic Viability Grown Vertically on Unutilized Building Wall in Dhaka City
2021· Frontiers in Sustainable Cities · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Evaluates the growth, yield and economic viability of lettuce grown vertically on a building wall in Dhaka, finding a green-leaf cultivar in an organic medium significantly outperformed other treatments.
DIYEconomicsA Novel Green Alternative for a Room Prototype Constructed with Entire Recycled PET Bottles and a Green Roof Composed of Waste Materials
2021· Applied Sciences · Global
Proposes a prototype room for low-income users enabling self-construction and upcycling of widely available waste materials, including a green roof of waste materials, with mechanical tests on filled PET bottles and PET-bottle/concrete blocks.
DIYOrganic cycleExpanding the Level of Technological Readiness for a Low-Cost Vertical Hydroponic System
2021· Inventions · Global
Presents a design advancing the technological readiness of a low-cost vertical hydroponic system using lighter, cheaper materials such as aluminum and PVC with integrated drip irrigation for resource-limited settings.
DIYEconomicsUrban Agriculture on the Rooftop
2021Sumita Ghosh · · Global
This research conducted a desktop review and analyzed six international case studies of rooftop urban farms, community gardens, and home gardens. The analysis found that productive landscapes already exist on city rooftops, contributing positively to community, environment, ecology, economy, and society. Planning and designing rooftop gardens in dense urban areas could foster place-making through urban agriculture.
DIYCommunityClimate changeEconomicsBiodiversityProducción y diversificación sostenible del cultivo de ñame (Dioscorea spp.) en condiciones de sequía agrícola en el municipio de Jiguaní
2021Diana Maria Reyes Avalo, Misterbino Borgès Garcìa · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba (Jiguaní)
This study in Jiguaní municipality, Granma province, Cuba, aimed to enhance the sustainable production and diversification of yam cultivation under agricultural drought conditions using biotechnological seeds. The accelerated yam seed production technology, combining biotechnological and conventional methods, was implemented in urban, suburban, and family agriculture. This led to the successful implementation of certified yam seed technology, increasing plant numbers from 2000 to 6000 in 2018 for a total area of 0.6 ha, and contributing to local development.
Peri-urban agricultureClimate changeDIYReasons and Remedies to the Dying Plant Walls
2021Hayley Q McGough · DigitalCommons - CalPoly (California State Polytechnic University) · Global
This paper investigates why plant façades on buildings frequently die, preventing them from fully realizing benefits like urban heat island reduction and improved air quality. Through interviews with landscape architects, it examines factors for maintaining plant façades and assesses if new approaches, such as earlier integration of landscape architects or biocurtains, can address the high mortality rates. The study highlights that these plant façades often fail, leading to waste and unfulfilled potential.
Limited or null effectClimate changeBiodiversityEconomicsDIYThe Effect of Mixed Cultivation Using Companion Plants on the Growth and Quality of Cherry Tomatoes
2021Byoung-Kwon Lee, Hyung Kwon Yun, In-Kyoung Hong, Young-Bin Jung, Sang Mi Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global
This study investigated the effect of companion planting using marigold, zinnia, spearmint, and basil on the growth and quality of cherry tomatoes. Plant growth in companion planting plots significantly increased compared to monoculture, but there was no interaction effect among companion plants, planting ratio, and type. While sugar content and vitamin C content were higher than the control, no statistically significant difference was found.
DIYFood educationHealthContainer gardens: Possibilities and challenges for environmental and social benefits in cities
2021Ayako Nagase, Jeremy Lundholm · Journal of Living Architecture · Global
This review elucidates potential ecosystem services provided by container gardening, which are used in cities globally where access to soil is limited. The services include food production, stormwater management, air quality improvement, energy savings, thermal comfort, plant biodiversity, creation of animal habitats, aesthetic value, communication, and environmental education. The review aims to recognize the value of container gardens to promote them as part of green infrastructure in urban areas.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityClimate changeFood educationGerminando redes
2021Laura Vanesa Martínez Gordillo · South Florida Journal of Development · Colombia (Bogotá)
This document reflects on a social and ecological project in Barrio La Concordia, Bogotá, Colombia, which uses vertical urban agriculture and graffiti on facades. The project, "Germinating Networks," encourages residents to adopt sustainable practices and reconnect with nature using reusable materials for hanging pots. It aims to foster cooperative relationships and cultural changes around organic food, influencing neighborhood identity.
CommunityDIYOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceAlliances and Exchanges
2021Caroline Goodson · Cambridge University Press eBooks · Global
This chapter examines the economic context of urban food production in the Middle Ages, focusing on household-scale cultivation. It explores the emergence of urban food markets and the absence of evidence for them before the eleventh century. In the absence of commercial farming, household-level cultivation was the primary food source for most city-dwellers, with food gardens and their exchange through family networks highlighting the role of family links in urban food production.
EconomicsCommunityDIYFood sovereignty & justiceAQUAPONIK SOLUSI URBAN FARMING
2021Livia Windiana, Desiana Nuriza Putri, Dina Amalia, Annisa' Melliana Rahmah · VIABEL Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu-Ilmu Pertanian · Global
This community service study aimed to analyze household vegetable consumption frequency and income (savings) from aquaponics application. Using a qualitative approach, survey methods, and income analysis, the study found a 9.5% increase in household vegetable consumption frequency among respondents, reaching 100% daily consumption after the activity. Additionally, household food income or savings from aquaponics application amounted to Rp. 126,000/month from harvested vegetables and catfish.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsHealthINFLUÊNCIA DA BORRA DE CAFÉ FRESCA NA GERMINAÇÃO DE SEMENTES DE RÚCULA COMO ALTERNATIVA DE FERTILIZANTE NA AGRICULTURA URBANA
2021Luciano Majolo, Deibson Teixeira da Costa, Camila Firmino de Azevêdo · Editora Científica Digital eBooks · Global
This study analyzed the application of fresh coffee grounds as a substrate for arugula seed germination, using concentrations of 0% to 25%. All evaluated characteristics, including emergence percentage, seedling length, and mass, showed a decreasing variation with increasing coffee grounds. Fresh coffee grounds applied directly as fertilizer proved inefficient for arugula in the tested quantities.
Limited or null effectDIYOrganic cycleEvaluation of green roof structures and substrates for Lactuca sativa L. in tropical conditions
2021A. Varela, Alexandra Sandoval-Albán, Marcela Muñoz, Alfonso Goméz Gómez, Manuel Bogoya, Germán Combariza · Urban forestry & urban greening · Global
This study evaluated the optimal combination of three different modular extensive green roof structures and two types of local substrates (compost and soil + biochar) for Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa (lettuce) growth under tropical climate conditions, measuring physicochemical and biological properties of substrates and plant growth variables over seven weeks under rainy and dry conditions. A monolithic multilayer structure, high Mg concentrations, elevated amounts of 600 μm aggregates, and lower substrate bulk density were linked with higher L. sativa yield, but the specific substrate used was not associated with this result. Some physicochemical and microbiological properties of substrates changed by the experiment's end, with these changes dependent on climatic conditions.
DIYCompostClimate change