Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
1914 results(72 / 77)
Closing the Loop: Community Gardening in Boulder, Colorado
2009Colleen O’Holleran · School for International Training Digital Collections (School for International Training) · United States (Boulder, Colorado)
A study in Boulder, Colorado, interviewed thirteen community gardeners to understand their motivations for participation. Gardeners were found to come from diverse backgrounds and participate for various reasons, including the desire to be outdoors, curiosity, resource sharing, a closer connection with food, self-reliance, health commitment, and pride. Despite challenges, gardeners overcome them due to their commitment to cultivating their plots.
CommunityHealthFood educationSustaining Hope: A Ten-Year Plan for the Growing Hope Center
2009Rachel Chadderdon, Laura Colangelo, Joel Heeres, Brian Lipinski, Rachel Steel · · United States
This project assessed how the Ypsilanti-based nonprofit Growing Hope could best utilize its recently acquired Growing Hope Center to promote garden-related social enterprise activities. Through literature review, surveys of urban agriculture nonprofits and Ypsilanti residents, and a survey of Washtenaw County food businesses, sufficient community demand for a market gardener training program and willingness of local businesses to purchase produce were identified. The research led to the formulation of two models, the Food Security Model and the High Production Model, and a recommendation for Growing Hope to form an Ypsilanti Food Policy Council.
CommunityFood educationPolicyEconomicsLa Agroecología como Propuesta de Educación Ambiental para la Sustentabilidad Social en Rosario. Argentina.
2009Graciela Ottmann, Eduardo Sevilla Guzmán, Antonio Lattucca · REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE AGROECOLOGIA · Argentina (Rosario)
This paper examines the environmental dimension of agroecological productive experiences, focusing on a specific case in Rosario, Argentina. It demonstrates that by articulating various agroecological experiences into productive networks, these networks gain political content, influencing transformation processes with participatory and popular education. Examples include the Network of "Huerteros/as," the Green Life consumer network, "Huerta" Parks, and Social Agroindustries, which are agroecological actions integrated with Rosario's municipal Urban Agriculture program.
Food educationCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceParticipatory Design of Public Spaces for Urban Agriculture, Rosario, Argentina
2009Marielle Dubbeling, Laura Bracalenti, Laura Lagorio · Open House International · Argentina (Rosario)
In Rosario, Argentina, city planners and university staff collaborated with two low-income communities to design and implement a multifunctional neighborhood park, public square, and road reserve for urban agriculture. A step-by-step participatory design process was followed. This participatory design contributed to improving socio-economic and environmental conditions in the city.
CommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsBiodiversityFood educationIncorporating gardening in the classroom
2009Michael Sifferman · Digital Commons - CSUMB (California State University, Monterey Bay) · United States (California)
For a capstone project, a school garden comprising an herb, vegetable, and flower garden was built at Meadowlark Elementary. The author taught garden-related lessons to kindergarten classes, integrating various subject standards. A random survey of parents and teachers was conducted to assess the project's usefulness.
Food educationDIYOrientación sobre la agricultura urbana: una vía para la sostenibilidad
2009Yamila Santana Esponda, Ramiro Renol Ortega Vera · DELOS Desarrollo Local Sostenible · Cuba
This work aims to provide guidance on urban agriculture as a beneficial option for food production in cities and their peripheries in Cuba, especially given rising food prices and global economic crisis. It seeks to enhance knowledge about urban agriculture as a path to sustainability in upper secondary education, focusing on Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara province.
Food sovereignty & justiceEconomicsFood educationImpact of Community Gardening Workshops on Food Security in Ghanaian Favelas
2009Kwesi Acheampong, Amoako Mensah, Boatemaa Boateng · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Ghana
A survey conducted from January to March across five favelas in Accra, Ghana, investigated the impact of community gardening workshops on food security. While participants gained knowledge on sustainable gardening techniques, 45% of respondents still lacked access to necessary resources like seeds and tools. The study concluded that workshops improved awareness but further support is needed to address practical implementation barriers.
Limited or null effectCommunityFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareDeveloping enterprise budgets for sustainable school gardens: Service learning in a global context
2009A. D. Jones, Jennie Popp · Discovery The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food and Life Sciences · United States
This research aims to develop enterprise budgets for sustainable school gardens as part of a service learning program at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (UAF). These budgets are used to evaluate the costs and returns of producing crops that meet three criteria: minimal negative environmental impact, just-in-time production for school needs, and financial solvency. The research focuses on developing enterprise budgets for four crops—chili peppers, cabbage, corn, and tomatoes—and an interactive Excel® budgeting tool to evaluate revenues and expenses.
Food educationCommunityEconomicsThe green we need: an investigation of the benefits of green life and green spaces for urban dwellers' physical, mental and social health.
2009Allyson Holbrook · Figshare · Global
"The Green We Need" project, commissioned by Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), identified 171 articles published since 2000 across 75 academic journals. These articles presented new data on the health, quality of life, and social impacts of urban dwellers' access to green space. The research strongly supported a growing body of international studies since 2000 indicating the human need for nearby green spaces for healthy living, physical and social activity, and a direct relationship between proximity to green space and its use for recreation and daily activities.
HealthCommunityFood educationMaking Connections - Envisioning Springfield's North End
2009David M Ahronian, Kelly R Ashton, Erin G Bassett, Maxwell A Cohen, Victor J Czulak, Gregory S Dunbar, Brendan T Farragher, Jonathan L Gorman, Peter L Guy, Timothy J Iles, Piyawut Inthasorn, Travis A Johnson, Jonathan B. Koch, Justin J Kronewitter, Zachary B Livingston, Matthew Morano, Brian Mulvehill, Kevin Murphy, Sean P O'Connell, Peter W. Stephens, Christopher Tourigny, Bryce P White, Timothy E Young · ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst (University of Massachusetts Amherst) · United States (Springfield)
This work explores a service learning strategy within an Urban Design Studio at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, focused on envisioning Springfield's North End. The project aimed to stimulate conversation, develop green design strategies, improve services, and foster cultural engagement to enhance the community's vibrancy and quality of life. It proposes that improved physical, cultural, and social connectivity is key to achieving these goals, and identified six sustainable learning and planning principles, including urban agriculture and education for healthy living.
Urban–rural linkageFood educationCommunityModification of a Community GArden to Attract Native Bee Pollinators in Urban San Luis Obispo, California
2009J. C. Pawelek, Gordon W. Frankie, Robbin W. Thorp, Maggie Przybylski · Cities and the Environment · United States (California)
A community garden in San Luis Obispo, California, was modified by planting bee-attractive plants to attract native bee pollinators. Garden modification and monitoring of native bees occurred from 2007 through the 2009 growing season. The diversity of collected and observed native bees increased each year, with 40 species in 17 genera recorded to date.
CommunityBiodiversityPollinatorsFood educationFROM THEORY TO PRACTICE - ORGANIC WASTE REDUCTION AT THE LOCAL COMUNITY LEVEL
2009Delia Nicoleta Vieru · · Global
This text discusses organic waste reduction, noting that over 50% of household waste is organic and often leads to pollution. It explains the importance of managing compost processes for quality compost, emphasizing a 30:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio for efficient decomposition. The text proposes school-based compost production as a method to engage the school community in environmental efforts, promoting resource recirculation, education on compost benefits, waste attitude change, reduction of school canteen waste, student involvement, and the creation of fertile soil for school gardens.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityFood educationGrowing Gardens and Nurturing Community in the Urban Environment
2009Katie Shaw · Providence College Digital Commons (Providence College) · Global
This study analyzes how urban agriculture, specifically community gardens, addresses rising global pressures on urban areas by rebuilding local networks. It presents community gardening as a solution to the global food crisis and compares community garden projects in five cities: Accra, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Havana, and Philadelphia. The research also examines the demographics of community gardeners, particularly their impacts on marginalized members of society, and highlights community gardens' role in city planning and green design.
CommunityFood educationWelfareElderlyPolicyPromoting Healthy Diets through Community Gardens: An Investigation into Their Effectiveness in Reducing Obesity Among Senegalese Adolescents in Uganda
2009Kasaka Kizito, Okumu Mukulu, Sserunkuma Ndegeyi · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Uganda
This mixed-methods study investigated the effectiveness of community gardens in reducing obesity among 200 Senegalese adolescents aged 15-18 in Uganda. Initial analysis suggests that community gardens significantly reduced the proportion of adolescents with obesity by 30%, indicating a positive impact on dietary habits and physical activity levels. While these preliminary findings are promising, further longitudinal studies are needed.
HealthCommunityFood educationWelfareLike what you get? Is it good for you? Organic food, health and sustainable development in schools
2009Minna Mikkola, Bent Egberg Mikkelsen, Gun Roos · · Global
These Proceedings compile preliminary empirical research, Master's theses, projects on implementing organic school meals and school gardens, and educational visions for future food education for sustainability. Published halfway through the iPOPY project, this report presents some of the outcomes achieved and outlines ongoing work towards more sustainable food systems.
Food educationHealthCommunityCommunity Gardens in Urban Ghana: Impacts on Food Security, Public Health, and Community Cohesion
2009Abena Boampongwa, Esi Amagatso, Efua Asarekwai · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Ghana
This study in urban Ghana used a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, focus groups, and observational studies over one year, to assess the impact of community gardens. It found that community gardens significantly increased (p<0.05) the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among community members, improving dietary diversity and reducing reliance on processed foods. The findings suggest community gardens can enhance food security and public health outcomes in urban settings, especially with integrated educational programs.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceHealthFood educationPolicyContext Aware Education for Agriculture.
2009Richard Beckwith, Sharon Greenfield · · Global
This ethnographic study investigated how teachers use school gardens for agricultural education and how farmers learn on farms, aiming to define needs for a mobile educational application. The research sought to inform the development of a mobile device with video, connectivity, and sensors, capable of generating inferences for computer vision and other applications. Future work will explore how such devices can influence learning and teaching.
Food educationCommunityThe Socioeconomic and Cultural Significance of Food Gardening in the Vladimir Region of Russia
2008Sharashkin L. · University of Missouri-Columbia (PhD Dissertation) · Russia (Vladimir Region)
A PhD dissertation examining 1,500 Vladimir Region families to show that household food gardens underpin more than half of Russia's agricultural output and fulfil wide-ranging economic, social, and cultural functions.
EconomicsCommunityWelfareFood educationGrowing Vegetables and Values: Benefits of Neighborhood-Based Community Gardens for Youth Development and Nutrition
2008Julie Ober Allen, Katherine Alaimo, Doris Elam, Elizabeth Perry · Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition · Global
This 2008 qualitative case study examined two neighborhood-based community gardens with youth programs, using participant observation and in-depth interviews with various stakeholders. The study found that these garden programs offered opportunities for constructive activities, community contributions, skill development, and improved nutrition for participating youth. Community gardens promoted developmental assets for youth while enhancing their access to and consumption of healthy foods.
CommunityFood educationHealthWelfare“A Better Crop of Boys and Girls”: The School Gardening Movement, 1890–1920
2008Sally Gregory Kohlstedt · History of Education Quarterly · United States
The school gardening movement, prominent from the 1890s into the twentieth century, exemplified progressive educational ideas of integrating school and society, as advocated by educators like John Dewey. School gardens, found in both urban and rural settings, connected intellectual and practical learning, with evidence of their widespread presence documented in newspapers, magazines, and school reports. These gardens were encouraged in both theory and practice across various educational institutions.
Food educationCommunityChildhood Obesity Prevention: Successful Community-Based Efforts
2008Laure DeMattia, Shannon Lee Denney · The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science · United States
This article reviews community-based programs in the United States aimed at slowing the rate of childhood obesity, which affects one in three children. It examines interventions such as recipe preparation demonstrations, community gardens, and school-based curricula. The article concludes with suggestions for intervention efforts and funding priorities, emphasizing the importance of primary prevention focusing on high-risk populations of low-income overweight women of childbearing years.
HealthCommunityFood education2008 South Carolina school garden survey results
2008Laura Greenwold Derks · The South Carolina State Library Digital Collections (South Carolina State Library) · United States
A 2008 survey was conducted among 175 public and private schools in South Carolina to assess the impact of school gardens. The survey covered garden type, activities, costs, and assessment. Most responding schools indicated that students participate in the garden, suggesting opportunities for student interaction with the garden.
Food educationCommunityEconomicsTownes Harvest Garden and Community Supported Agriculture Program, First Annual Report 2007
2008Anna Differnderfer, Tim Reusch, Nic Acker, Candace Moyer, Marcy Gaston, Charles A. Holt, Alison H. Harmon · · United States
This report describes the Towne's Harvest Garden, a 3-acre diversified vegetable plot at the MSU Horticulture Farm, established by the MSU Friends of Local Foods Student Organization in 2006. The garden aims to raise awareness about local foods and encourage sustainable lifestyles on campus and in the community. Its name honors a former landowner.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood educationDeveloping IPM Resources for Youth Gardening Programs
2008Monika Roth, Leigh MacDonald Rizzo · eCommons (Cornell University) · United States
This paper proposes developing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) fruit and vegetable demonstration garden and six hands-on IPM lessons for youth gardening programs. The initiative aims to address the disconnect between children and the outdoors, promoting physical activity and improved diets. The lessons, to be piloted at Ithaca Children’s Garden, will teach youth and adults about pest identification, beneficial insects, and pest management, with training offered to school garden coordinators.
Food educationCommunityThe Feminist Pedagogy of SAVE NATURE-SAVE CULTURE: A Double-Coded Art Installation
2008M. Pilar Viviente · Visual Culture & Gender · United States (New York City)
This visual essay discusses the feminist pedagogy of double-coding embedded in the "SAVE NATURE-SAVE CULTURE" (2006) art installation. The installation, located in Le Petit Versailles (LPV), a community garden in New York City's East Village, addressed the sustainability of community gardens. LPV is a public garden maintained by neighbor volunteers, focusing on environmental sustainability and themes such as housing, graffiti, gender, and sexuality.
CommunityPolicyFood education