Research & reports

Julie L. Self, Amanda Wyatt, Aimee Webb Girard · The FASEB Journal · United States (Atlanta)

This research characterized community gardens (CGs) in two urban counties in Atlanta, Georgia, through semi-structured interviews with diverse garden leaders. The study identified primary barriers to creating and sustaining CGs as leadership constraints, reliable access to natural resources, and unclear regulations. It also found that CGs foster access to fresh food, knowledge, and community connections, with benefits varying by community.

Anthony Sutton · DigitalCommons (California Polytechnic State University) · United States (Maine)

This ethnographic communication research supported the Micmac Farms in Presque Isle, Maine, which were established to address food security and community health issues like obesity and diabetes. The study, conducted over three months in summer 2011, identified that administrative power structures, economic constraints, and operational planning issues threatened the farm's efforts to achieve greater economic and food security. The analysis revealed that economic behaviors dominated the data, with grants for the farm centering on economics due to historical farming discourse and business focus.

Silvana Maria Ribeiro, Elaine de Azevedo, Maria Cecília Focesi Pelicioni, Cláudia Maria Bógus, Isabel Maria Teixeira Bicudo Pereira · Revista Brasileira em Promoção da saúde · Brazil

This documentary research reflected on agroecological urban agriculture in relation to health promotion and food and nutritional security, involving local communities. Data synthesis, based on reports, field activity records, participant testimonies, and project coordination interviews, revealed that agroecological urban agriculture contributed to community leadership, popular participation, and the development of food and environmental awareness among social actors. Conclusions identified relevant aspects aligned with health promotion principles, including strengthening intersectorality, local empowerment, individual and collective agency, creating healthy environments, and community mobilization.

Barb Bergman · Educational Media Reviews Online · United States (Baltimore)

The film "Cafeteria Man" follows Tony Geraci, Food and Nutrition Director for Baltimore schools, as he works to improve school lunch quality. It highlights how local fresh foods benefit students and farmers, and how school gardens provide learning opportunities for students in urban neighborhoods. The film also touches on obstacles to improved school lunch, including schools not receiving purchased fresh produce.

Ana Carolina Vinholi, Pedro Martins · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Itajaí)

This article investigates urban agriculture practices in Itajaí/SC, Brazil, to identify their potentials and obstacles for territorial development. Using participant observation and semi-structured interviews, the study concludes that urban agriculture is an expanding phenomenon closely linked to rural exodus. It also serves as a space for the conservation of traditional knowledge.

Ana Carolina Paiva Rodrigues · VII CONNEPI - Congresso Norte Nordeste de Pesquisa e Inovação · Brazil (Natal)

In the Gramorezinho region of Natal-RN, Brazil, an exploratory study analyzed the socioeconomic and productive characteristics of urban and peri-urban agriculture. The methodology involved examining farmers' socioeconomic profiles, adopted production systems, and commercialization methods for key vegetable species. The study concluded that the legitimization of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Natal-RN is flawed, not only concerning municipal legislation but also regarding the guarantee of support and technical assistance for agricultural activities.

Samantha R. Lester · Digital Commons - DU (University of Denver) · United States (Denver)

This qualitative study evaluated the local food movement in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, through interviews with community members, restaurant owners, garden members, and organizers. The local food movement was present through various outlets, including a farmer's market, community gardens, and local food stores. Motivations for participation primarily included building community, a growing population able to support local food, and a broader network of people and organizations.

Sarah A. Moore, Morgan Apicella, Sallie A. Marston, Moses Thompson · Children Youth and Environments · United States (Tucson)

An ongoing project in Tucson, Arizona, provides university interns to K-12 schools to build and maintain school gardens and facilitate learning about the environment and sustainability. Based on experiences at Manzo Elementary, a project school in a low-income, mixed-race neighborhood, the program evaluates the effectiveness of school gardens as a tool for experiential learning and describes obstacles encountered and overcome.

Geralyn A. Nolan, Amy McFarland, Jayne M. Zajicek, Tina M. Waliczek · HortTechnology · United States

Research was conducted with 141 minority elementary school children in a primarily Hispanic region of Texas to investigate whether gardening combined with a curriculum on nutrition could benefit them. After comparing pre- and posttest scores, it was concluded that gardening and nutritional instruction had a positive effect on students' nutritional knowledge, fruit and vegetable preference, and snack choices.

Germano Laurentino da Cunha, Adriana Celi Alves Martins, Maria José Araújo Wanderley, Raunira da Costa Araújo, Terezinha Domiciano Dantas Martins, Francisca Alexandre de Lima · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil (Solânea)

This project aimed to establish organic vegetable gardens in public elementary and high schools in Solânea, Paraíba, Brazil. Funded by CNPq, the initiative involved installing 14 garden beds with various vegetables in each participating school. Students received mini-courses on organic vegetable production, and participated in making compost and biofertilizers. The target audience demonstrated receptiveness and support for the work.

Julie L. Self, Becky Handforth, Janelle Hartman, Corey McAuliffe, Elizabeth Noznesky, Rebecca J. Schwei, Laura Whitaker, Amanda Wyatt, Amy Girard · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States

A student-driven, community-engaged learning course was developed to enhance student understanding of complex food system determinants and food choices. The course, guided by the socio-ecological model, involved students collaborating with faculty and community partners to define its objectives and curriculum. It featured student-led modules on food preferences, agriculture systems, food access, and agricultural policy, alongside community-engaged research projects that examined food distribution models in metro Atlanta and identified strategies to improve access to healthy food in low-income areas.

Harry L. Watson · Southern cultures · United States

This text discusses the evolution of food culture in the American South, from World War I-era calls for local food conservation to modern locavore movements. It highlights the current popularity of local food traditions and farmer's markets, while also raising concerns about the health impacts of large-scale industries like North Carolina's hog farming. Historically, the South was known for nutritional diseases alongside its traditional recipes.

Jennifer E. Reeves · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network) · United States (Cleveland, Ohio)

This two-year study in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, investigated urban soil health via nematode food web analysis and crop productivity via tomato fruit yield in urban gardens. Market gardens showed significantly more soil organic matter, nitrogen pools, and nematode presence than community gardens in both 2011 and 2012. However, despite these differences, there was no significant difference in the total yield of tomatoes per square meter between market and community garden types in either year. Gardens with raised beds had significantly more soil moisture content and soil organic matter than those with flat beds.

Carolin Mees, Edie Stone · · United States (New York City)

In New York City, community gardens were established by resident groups in the 1970s, contributing to recreation, food security, and sustainable urban development. Their number has fluctuated over the past 30 years, with approximately 600 gardens existing today, over 300 of which are on public land. Recently, in response to climate change and economic crisis, elements like beehives and rainwater harvesting have been legalized and used to maximize food production and conserve water. This chapter will use qualitative data analysis, secondary literature discussion, and participant observation to evaluate the employment and function of these garden components and how the city's community gardens contribute to a sustainable city.

Jodi L. Sangster, Andrew Nelson, Shannon L. Bartelt‐Hunt · International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship · United States (Omaha)

Soil and vegetable samples were collected from a community garden in Omaha, Nebraska, which had known soil lead contamination. Total lead content was evaluated using atomic absorption spectroscopy, revealing lead concentrations in soil ranging from 4 to 574 ppm, with an average of 128.4 ppm in growing beds and 31.5 ppm in OmaGro compost. Lead was also present in vegetable samples at or below 16.25 ppm.

Lacy Weinblatt, Sarah Najdek · · United States (Oregon)

The Oregon State University research project "Producing for the Future" involved low-income youth, adult partners, and researchers collaborating to design and plant a community garden and develop a microenterprise to market produce. The project aimed to compare participants' knowledge and attitudes regarding local food resources, gardening, organic eating, and healthy lifestyles before and after their involvement. This study used data to analyze changes among participants pre and post-experience, but specific findings are not reported.

Samantha Jones · Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science · United States (Arkansas)

To assess the feasibility of a campus community garden at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (UAF), an online survey of 88 campus community gardens in the United States and Canada, visits to six gardens, and interviews with UAF students, faculty, staff, and administration members were conducted. The study determined that a campus community garden at UAF was feasible if identified challenges and obstacles were properly addressed. This research identified seven best practices for campus community gardens.

Adam J Long · Scholarship @ Claremont (The Claremont Colleges) · United States (Washington, DC)

This study investigated heavy metal soil contaminants in 13 urban community gardens in Washington, DC, analyzing 45 soil samples using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). While most samples fell below US EPA action levels for common contaminants, high concentrations of lead (above the US EPA action level of 400 ppm) were found in the native soil of three garden sites, meriting concern due to potential health problems in children.

Rod MacRae, Joe Nar, James Kuhns, Lauren Baker, Russ Christianson, Martin Danyluk, Abra Snider, Eric V. Gallant, Penny Kaill-Vinish, Marc Michalak, Janet Oswald, Sima Patel, Gerda R. Wekerle · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Canada (Toronto)

This paper, focusing on Toronto, identifies subtle impediments to scaling up urban agriculture beyond self-provisioning, despite land not being an insurmountable barrier. These include taxation systems assuming agriculture is a strictly rural activity, inadequate knowledge sharing among urban producers, limited access to soil, water, and seeds, and a lack of incentives for landowners. Achieving 10% of the city's commercial fresh vegetable demand requires significant policy and program initiatives in five key areas, including governance, coordination, and financing.

Shannon Lawrence, John Rayfield · ˜The œAgricultural education magazine · United States

This article discusses the merits and potential of incorporating school gardens into agricultural education programs in the United States. It notes that school gardens, a national movement since 1891, offer opportunities for agricultural literacy, community outreach, and STEM integration. The ideas presented are based on conversations with agriculture teachers, observations, experiences, and reflections.

Heather Burns, Weston Miller · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States (Portland)

The Learning Gardens Laboratory (LGL) in Portland, Oregon, a partnership between Portland State University and Oregon State University, develops garden-based education programs to advance sustainable food systems and sustainability education. LGL's pedagogical principles, drawn from permaculture and ecological design, include interdisciplinary and place-based learning. The paper discusses these principles in relation to LGL's educational programs, highlighting the Beginning Urban Farming Apprenticeship and Lane Middle School Garden-Based Education programs.

Kevin Wonch · Hope College Digital Commons (Hope College) · United States (Detroit)

This study examines urban farming in Detroit, a city experiencing rapid decline with a population under a million, limited access to fresh food stores, and extensive vacant land. While arguing for modern urban farming as a foundation for sustainable practices and positive development, it notes that some political and business analysts question its ability to make a significant impact on the city’s future.

Martijn Koster, Pieter A. de Vries · Focaal · Brazil (Recife)

This article examined slum dwellers' politics in Recife, Brazil, as a realm of possibility where care and recognition are central. A community leader's urban agriculture project, which from an outsider's perspective might be considered non-viable, provided slum dwellers with possibilities to strive for community solidarity and personal recognition. The article concludes that slum politics is about claiming the right to be counted and recognized, and about the care for the other.

· · United States

The Birch Tree Project is a rehabilitation initiative for a 56-unit apartment complex designed to house low-to moderate-income families and offer supportive services. These services include a Head Start facility, Life Skills classes, Case Management, Asset Building and Credit Repair, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a Community Garden, and a Summer Feeding site. Given Farmington City's growth in minimum-wage service industry jobs, which leads many families to spend a disproportionate amount of income on housing, this project aims to create safe, affordable housing opportunities for marginalized families.

Jillian Thompson, Christopher C. Obropta · · United States (Newark)

In 2009, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, funded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, implemented stormwater management education and best management practices (BMPs) in Newark, New Jersey. The initiative aimed to reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges. Through this effort, a formerly vacant lot was transformed into a community garden featuring a 1,550-gallon cistern and a rain garden, with educational training provided to ex-offenders and sixth-grade students.