Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2091 results(71 / 84)
Hazon CSA Community: Comprehensive Program Promotion
2013Lauren Sara Wasserman · The Open Repository - Binghamton (Binghamton University) · Global
This research study examined how Hazon could better promote its comprehensive programming to its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) site communities. As of 2012, Hazon had 58 CSA site locations, each with coordinators acting as liaisons. The study aimed to explore ways for Hazon to improve its program promotion.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityОценка состояния зеленых насаждений общего пользования г. Волгограда
2013С Н Кириллов, Ю. С. Половинкина · CyberLeninK (CyberLeninka) · Russia
This article presents the results of an environmental assessment of Volgograd's public green spaces. Integrated environmental assessment coefficients were calculated for the main green areas, and recommendations for optimizing urban gardening were provided.
CommunityPolicySalt intake in children 10–12 years old and its modification by active working practices in a school garden
2013Jorge Cotter, Maria J. Cotter, Pedro Oliveira, Pedro Cunha, Jorge Polónia · Journal of Hypertension · Portugal
A 6-month study in northern Portugal evaluated the impact of three interventions on salt intake and blood pressure in 155 children aged 10-12. Interventions included a control, theoretical lessons on high salt intake, and theoretical lessons combined with practical school garden activities (planting, collecting herbs for salt substitution). Only the practical group showed a significant reduction in salt intake (1.1 g/day), with 50.9% of children reducing intake by at least 1g/day, suggesting that combined theoretical and practical education is more effective.
Food educationHealthCommunityLa escritura en un proyeto de agroecología escolar : la recuperación del huerto urbano
2013Xavier Fontich Vicens, Mariona Espinet Blanch, Germán Llerena del Castillo · · Global
This record concerns writing in a school agroecology project and the recovery of an urban garden. It is based on the publication's abstract, as part of a monograph titled "Teaching and Learning Scientific Discourse."
Food educationCommunityDIYProces en verantwoording GPP module
2013Coen van Vreden, Paul Versteeg · · Global
This document details the process and achievement of objectives for the Green Prototype Platform (GPP) module, including a concise description of urban farming based on research from the first block. The research from block 1 significantly aided in creating the sketch design, which is the second final product. An article on urban farming characteristics, co-authored for a lecture carousel, is appended as a valuable addition to this document.
CommunityUrban agriculture : guerrilla gardening : future trends
2013Carol Posthumus · SABI Magazine - Tydskrif · Global
Discussions about providing nutritious food for a growing population often include agricultural growth, focusing on both the quantity and quality of food produced. An emphasis is also placed on the growth of smallholder farmers, particularly women farmers, as a solution for future food provision.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityEconomicsThe role of community supported agriculture in the development of organic agriculture in Croatia
2013Ivan Sarjanović · Geoadria · Croatia
An online questionnaire was administered to 46 group members and 5 farmers to investigate the functioning of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups in Croatia and the socio-economic characteristics of their members and collaborating farmers. The survey confirmed that CSA group members are younger, highly educated individuals living in large cities or urbanized regions (Zagreb, Kvarner, Istria), driven by eco-social motives such as ecological consciousness, healthy food, and cooperation. Farmers collaborating with CSA groups practice ecological agriculture on farms smaller than the Croatian average, and they cooperate due to easier product sales and the positive effect on their income and local community involvement.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsOrganic cycleState of Australian Cities Conference (SOAC) 2013 Comparing food efficient design and planning of built environments in Sydney and Miami
2013Sumita Ghosh · · Global
This paper aims to measure and compare the morphologies and spatial dimensions of three typologies of small local food production spaces—urban small farms, community gardens, and home gardens—in two low-density suburban residential neighborhood case studies in Sydney and Miami. Miami's integrated form-based zoning code, "The Transect," provides design and planning guidelines for six zones from urban to natural areas. Results indicate that morphological analysis can significantly assist in the design and planning of built environments and the formulation of planning policy.
CommunityPolicyUrban–rural linkageGardening as Ethnographic Research: Volunteering as a Means for Community Access
2013Andrew Flachs · Journal of Ecological Anthropology · Global
This paper demonstrates that ethnographers can gain a more effective qualitative understanding of community gardens by volunteering as gardeners. Volunteering helps researchers access various aspects of the garden community. It also offers an anthropological perspective on the common idea that many individuals join community gardens solely for economic benefits.
CommunityEconomicsAnalysis on Urban Agriculture Park Development Patterns at Home and Abroad
2013LI Xiao-shuan · Anhui nongye kexue · Global
Urban agriculture development patterns at home and abroad were studied, combined with actual cases, to discuss future urban agriculture development patterns. This study aims to provide a reference for the planning of modern urban agriculture parks.
PolicyCommunityGrowing Community: The Impact of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program on the Social and Learning Environment in Primary Schools
2012Block K., Gibbs L., Staiger P., Gold L., Johnson B., Macfarlane S., Long C., Townsend M. · Health Education & Behavior, 39(4):419-432 · Australia
A mixed-methods evaluation of Australia's Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. It reported social and learning benefits including increased student engagement, confidence and willingness to try new foods, plus experiential, integrated learning and stronger school-community connections.
Food educationCommunityHealthPast results and future directions in urban community gardens research
2012Guitart D., Pickering C., Byrne J. · Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 11(4):364-373 · Global
Review of English-language community gardens research, summarizing who studies them, locations, methods, plants grown, participants, and the motivations, benefits and limitations, while outlining future research directions.
CommunityWelfareBiodiversityUrban food production schemes in Ireland 1917–1923
2012Forrest M. · Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes · Ireland
This historical study documents the government-sponsored urban food production schemes introduced in Ireland between 1917 and 1923 in response to World War I food shortages, tracing how allotment promotion policies were administered by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction and the Local Government Board.
CommunityPolicyFood educationA Deweyan Defense of Guerrilla Gardening
2012Shane J. Ralston · The Pluralist · Global
This research article, published in The Pluralist in 2012, presents a Deweyan defense of guerrilla gardening. The full text of the article is available only as a PDF.
CommunityDIYFood sovereignty & justiceDeveloping a Space for Children: An Internship with the Mullumbimby Community Garden
2012Eden K Olsen · School for International Training Digital Collections (School for International Training) · Australia
This paper details an internship at the Mullumbimby Community Garden (MCG) in Byron Shire, Australia, focusing on the development of its Children's Garden. The intern spent 152.5 hours over four weeks in late 2012 on tasks including planting, project planning, and designing new structures. The study also examines the broader importance of community gardens and children's spaces, drawing conclusions on environmental education and communication practices based on participant observations and three interviews.
CommunityFood educationDIYFood sovereignty & justiceThe desire to learn as a kind of love: gardening, cooking, and passion in outdoor education
2012Karen Wistoft · Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning · Denmark
This article presents an evaluation of 'Gardens for Bellies' (Haver til Maver), an organic school garden project at Krogerup farm in Northern Sealand, Denmark. Based on qualitative and quantitative studies, the evaluation found very positive learning benefits, including the development of a desire to learn among participating pupils. The program, which provides first-hand experiences in nature, farming, and food preparation, is seen as a unique supplement to the Danish national curriculum.
Food educationCommunityPlace Values of Urban Agriculture through applying the Concept of Creative Industry Convergence
2012Seokhwan Lee · Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society · Global
This research aims to provide a theoretical basis for sustainable urban regeneration by studying the place value improvement through urban agriculture, applying the concept of creative industry convergence. It identifies problems with existing urban development methods and highlights the strengths of urban agriculture with creative industry convergence in enhancing place value. The study proposes a new paradigm for urban regeneration.
CommunityEconomicsPolicyGender analysis of land use for urban agriculture and sustainability of livelihoods in Freetown, Sierra Leone
2012Oladele Oladimeji Idowu · African Journal of Agricultural Research · Sierra Leone (Freetown)
This study conducted a gender analysis of urban agriculture (UA) land use and livelihood sustainability in Freetown, Sierra Leone, interviewing 91 producers (30 male, 61 female). The majority of producers were female, and female-managed farms showed higher gross margins (23,895 Leones) and returns than male-managed farms (15,130 Leones). Key determinants of UA income contribution included household size, access to credit, farmer association membership, gender, age, and farm size, with UA income decreasing as household size and the number of male producers increased.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityResidual residential space as commons
2012Dan Rabinowitz · International Journal of the Commons · Israel
This article extends Common Pool Resources (CPR) theory to residential complexes, defining Residual Residential Space (RRS) such as courtyards and lobbies as a new sub-set of CPR. Based on findings from three types of RRS in Israel, the study suggests that legal instruments alone are insufficient for regulating such spaces. Effective regulation requires alignment with popular framings of RRS, local sensibilities, and stakeholders' community expectations.
CommunityPolicyHEAVY METAL POLLUTION AND URBAN AGRICULTURE IN MSIMBAZI RIVERVALLEY: HEALTH RISK AND PUBLIC AWARENESS
2012Lori Leonard, W. J. S. Mwegoha, Charles Kihampa · International Journal of Plant Animal and Environmental Sciences · Tanzania (Dar es Salaam)
This study investigated public awareness and health risks from heavy metal pollution in vegetables irrigated with Msimbazi River water in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Over 71% of 35 respondents used the river for irrigation, and high levels of chromium, lead, and copper were detected in popular vegetables. 69% of respondents were unaware of industrial pollution, and 63% were unaware of potential health effects. The study found that 95.6% of adults, 30.7% of children aged 6-12, and 12.5% of children aged 2-6 were at risk of lead carcinogenic effects, while 5% of children aged 2-6, 2.8% of children aged 6-12, and 1.2% of adults were at risk from carcinogenic cadmium effects.
Contamination & food safetyHealthCommunityGender Analysis of the Contribution of Urban Agriculture to Sustainable Livelihoods in Accra, Ghana
2012Adetola I. Adeoti, Olufunke Cofie, O. I. Oladele · Journal of Sustainable Agriculture · Ghana (Accra)
A study in Accra, Ghana, analyzed the gender dimensions of urban agriculture's contribution to sustainable livelihoods among vegetable producers. The study surveyed 92 male and 8 female producers, finding male producers had a mean age of 39.4 years and 6.4 years of schooling, while female producers averaged 49.8 years and 7.1 years of schooling. Farm size and access to credit were significant determinants of income from urban agriculture.
EconomicsWelfareCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDevelopment from Consumer-shared Farm to Rural Citizen Community:Thinking About a New Model to Balance Urban and Rural Development
2012Wang Shu-jin · Nongye jingji yu guanli · Global
This paper discusses consumer-shared farms as a key component of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and a beneficial model for balancing urban and rural development in developed countries. It suggests that combining consumer-shared farms with rural citizen communities can genuinely improve farmers' incomes and address issues in harmonious urban-rural development. The paper explores the concept of rural citizen communities, related research topics, and policy suggestions.
CSA & TeikeiUrban–rural linkageEconomicsCommunityWomen in Urban Agriculture: Are the Policies Supportive? The Case of Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania
2012BD Mntambo · Huria Journal of the Open University of Tanzania · Tanzania
In Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania, a study examined urban agriculture practices within the policy context, focusing on the experiences and attitudes of women cultivating vegetables in open spaces through an in-depth survey. Findings indicated that women's participation in urban agriculture contributes to food security, increased household income, and poverty reduction. However, a mismatch exists between the benefits of urban farming and current policies, negatively affecting women's participation, as policies are not supportive of urban farmers, particularly women, leading to small-scale cultivation and low income.
Governance failurePolicyCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceEcoliterate: How Educators Are Cultivating Emotional, Social, and Ecological Intelligence
2012Daniel Goleman, Lisa Bennett, Zenobia Barlow · · Global
The book "Ecoliterate" presents a new educational model integrating emotional, social, and ecological intelligence. It shares stories of educators, students, and activists addressing ecological issues related to food, water, oil, and coal from over 400 communities across the United States and other countries. The book also outlines five core practices of emotionally and socially engaged ecoliteracy and a professional development guide.
Food educationCommunityImpact of urban gardening in equatorial zone on soils and metal transfer to vegetables
2012Aubin Ondo, Pascale Prudent, C. Massiani, Menye Biyogo, Mariane Domeizel, Jacques Rabier, François Eba · Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society · Gabon (Libreville)
An assessment of urban agriculture's impact on soil properties and metal uptake by leafy vegetables in Libreville, Gabon, found strong soil acidification and decreased nutrient/metal concentrations due to agricultural practices. Metal transfer to plants was significant, with amaranth accumulating more metals than other vegetables, though cadmium and lead were not detectable in plant tissues. Amaranth and roselle preferentially concentrated metals in their leaves.
Contamination & food safetyOrganic cycleHealthCommunity