Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
2066 results(83 / 83)
Urban Farming Has Financial Advantages
1988Mary Clare Ahearn, David E. Banker, Ahearn, Mary, Banker, David · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · United States
Nearly one-third of all U.S. farms are located in metropolitan areas. These urban farms produce the majority of the nation's high-value crops, such as fruits and vegetables. They also contribute almost a third of the total value of U.S. farm sales and typically exhibit a stronger financial position compared to non-metropolitan farms.
EconomicsPeri-urban agricultureHorticultural activities and demographic factors influence childrens's self-esteem
1987Williams, Patrick Neal. · K-State Research Exchange (Kansas State University) · United States (Manhattan, Kansas)
A five-month study of children gardening in the Manhattan Community Garden, Manhattan, Kansas, investigated differences in self-esteem, horticultural knowledge, and garden quality. Children without other siblings gardening showed higher self-esteem, gained more horticultural knowledge, and had better appearing gardens than children with other siblings gardening.
Food educationCommunityHealthUrban Agriculture: Who Cultivates and why? a Case-Study of Lusaka, Zambia
1985Bishwapriya Sanyal · Food and Nutrition Bulletin · Zambia (Lusaka)
Urban agriculture in Lusaka, Zambia, is an innovative response by the urban poor facing insufficient income. Low-income households view urban cultivation as a long-term investment, requiring permanent urban residence (7-11 years) and access to land to ensure a return. Variations in cultivation patterns result from relative differences in land access and the need to maximize the return on domestic labor time.
WelfareEconomicsTilapia culture in conjunction with irrigation and urban farming. Final report
1983K. Bondari, E. D. Threadgill, J. Bender · OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · United States
This study conducted two experiments on tilapia culture. Experiment I aimed to determine the potential of Tilapia aurea in an integrated irrigation system for algae removal and resource recovery. Experiment II investigated the potential use of blue tilapia in urban farming, utilizing a passive solar greenhouse, an indoor pond for overwintering, and an outdoor pond for summer growth.
DIYOrganic cycleUrban–rural linkageFood and survival in Lusaka's self-help townships.
1980Ledogar Rj · PubMed · Zambia (Lusaka)
In 1978, a pilot project was initiated in Lusaka, Zambia, by UNICEF and The American Friends Service Committee to expand urban agriculture. This project aims to establish kitchen gardens on residential plots, cultivate road reserves and green belts, utilize idle land during the rainy season, raise small livestock, promote cooperative cultivation of small holdings in the urban periphery by low-income residents, and eventually resettle some urban residents on farms. The goal is for the service to be self-supporting by 1980.
WelfareFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityPeri-urban agricultureA study of soil contamination and plant lead uptake in Boston urban gardens
1979T. M. Spittler, William A. Feder · Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis · United States
This study demonstrated a serious problem of lead contamination in Boston's urban environment by analyzing about 900 soil samples from backyards, play areas, community gardens, and playgrounds using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. An average lead level of 800 ppm was found, traceable to the past widespread use of lead paint. Selected plant species grown in soils with lead levels ranging from 100–2000 ppm showed differing affinities for lead uptake, with fruits taking up less than roots and roots less than tops, indicating positive translocation of lead from soil into plant tissue.
Contamination & food safetyHealthWater Development Strategies in the Colorado River Basin: Expansion versus Involution
1978Gary B. Palmer · Anthropological Quarterly · United States
This paper applies Clifford Geertz's theory of involution, defined as social and technological substrategies for resource scarcity, to water development in the Colorado River Basin, United States. It proposes involution, including urban agriculture, as an alternative to competitive expansion, interpreting its regional implications for geothermal, desalinization, and irrigation projects. The study suggests that impacts on regional water allocation and quality from energy development depend on institutional and economic factors.
PolicyClimate changeOrganizing community gardens: bibliography
1978M. Klein, M. Smith · OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · United States
This bibliography lists pamphlets and newsletters related to organizing community gardens in the United States. It includes resources such as "Community Garden Handbook," "Guide to Community Garden Organization," and "Profiles of California Community Garden Projects." The bibliography also references the 1977 Gallup Poll results on gardening in America.
CommunityDIYPolicyThe Community Garden: Horticulture for the People1
1973Steven L. Doud, Greg Pagano · HortScience · United States
Many American urban dwellers are rediscovering that gardens can provide inexpensive, high-quality food, recreation, and relaxation. This "green thumb boom" is particularly evident in the emergence of community garden projects in college communities, where students seek to supplement incomes and work with plants. While these projects vary in management philosophy and workload allocation, they share common goals of abundant food production and enjoyment for gardeners.
CommunityEconomicsHealthWeeds as a source for human consumption. A comparison between tropical and temperate Latin America
1969Martha Díaz-Betancourt, Luciana Ghennandi, Ana H. Ladio, Ismael R López-Moreno, Estela Raffaele, Eduardo H. Rapoport · Revista de Biología Tropical · Latin America
This study compared edible weed biomass in tropical (Coatepec, Mexico, 400 samples) and temperate (Bariloche, Argentina, 739 samples) Latin America. Average edible fresh biomass ranged from 1277-3582 kg/ha in tropical areas and 287-2939 kg/ha in temperate areas. 43 species were sampled in Coatepec and 32 in Bariloche, with general means of 2.1 and 1.3 tons/ha respectively.
Food sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageStarting a Community Garden
1969Eva C. Worden, Adrian Hunsberger, John McLaughlin · EDIS · United States (Florida)
This publication was developed to assist those who wish to form a community garden in Florida. A community garden is a collaborative greenspace where participants share in both maintenance and rewards. This document is part of a series from the Environmental Horticulture Department at the University of Florida.
CommunityDIYDesafios do planejamento urbano no Brasil e seus marcos legais sob a ótica da agricultura urbana
1969Natália da Silva Lemos, Liza Maria Da Souza de Andrade, Valério Augusto Soares de Medeiros · Paranoá cadernos de arquitetura e urbanismo · Brazil
This research analyzed urban planning challenges in Brazil from the perspective of urban agriculture, examining social policies and legal frameworks including the City Statute (Law 10.257/2001) and Law 6.766/1979. The findings indicate a gap in legal provisions for urban agriculture actions and practices within land use and occupation regulations. The study suggests guidelines for implementation to address this deficiency.
Governance failurePolicyUrban–rural linkageClimate changeFood sovereignty & justice¿Qué Es una Granja Apoyada por una Alianza de Consumidores?
1969Mickie E. Swisher, Rose Koenig, Jennifer Gove, James A. Sterns · EDIS · United States (Florida)
This bulletin from the University of Florida explains the concept of a consumer-supported farm (Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA). CSA is a production method where consumers directly partner with farmers to secure their own food production, and this bulletin describes the steps required to develop such a partnership.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceAn Elementary School Garden Project
1944Lydia Elzey · The American Biology Teacher · United States
This record is a research article titled "An Elementary School Garden Project" by Lydia Elzey, published in The American Biology Teacher in 1944. The abstract provides only publication details and states that the content is only available via PDF, with no further information about the project itself.
Food educationCommunityLectures on housing. The warburton lectures for 1914. By B. Seebohm Rowntree and A. C. Pigou. Manchester: The University Press. 50 cents
1914John Ihlder · National Municipal Review · United States (New York City)
This abstract, from "Lectures on housing" (1914), describes various activities initiated by public schools, including normal schools, kindergartens, evening schools, trade schools, vacation schools, playgrounds, and school gardens. It also mentions music, drawing, manual training, household arts, physical training, medical inspection, school nurses, special classes for children with disabilities, visiting teachers, and school lunches. Part 2 of the primer summarizes the aims and activities of the New York association.
Food educationCommunityA School Garden
1905Nina Leubrie · The Elementary School Teacher · United States
In October, upon the school's opening, many flowers were still blooming in "Grandmother's Garden" at Lincoln Park. The children desired to plant hollyhocks, hardy chrysanthemums, and bright autumn flowers in front of their building, but it was determined to be too late for fall flowers. Consequently, it was decided that spring flowers would be planted using bulbs, for which catalogues were obtained, and pictures and descriptions were studied.
Food educationCommunity