Research & reports

Bree Bode, Sarah Mott, Jacob M. Cutler, Marci Scott · Health Promotion Practice · United States (Michigan)

In Michigan, this project used a community-involved process—listening sessions, brainstorming, and shopper surveys—to build SNAP-Ed nutrition education for community-supported agriculture (CSA) sites that accept SNAP benefits. Key lessons were that educators need autonomy to tailor activities to their local context and that strong relationships between nutrition educators and CSA staff are essential. These lessons informed a resource called the CSA Food Navigator Playbook.

Madison LeCroy, Olivia Alleyne, Rhyden Dowd, Gareth Stacke, Gizan Denoon, Faven Araya, Yomaha Gordon, Kimberly Charles, Perla Chebli, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, Stella Yi · Circulation · United States (New York City)

This pilot evaluated the East Flatbush Produce Program, a 100% cost-offset, culturally tailored community-supported agriculture (CSA) program co-developed with community partners and a local rooftop farm in Brooklyn, New York, serving Afro-Caribbean and Latine residents with high food insecurity. Participants received weekly culturally tailored vegetables plus bilingual nutrition education; weekly pickup attendance was 62% and 71% at the two sites and mid-point satisfaction was high (96% would recommend). The authors conclude the program demonstrated the feasibility and community acceptability of a cost-offset CSA.

Chiarella C., Lamoureaux Y., Pires A., Surls R., Bennaton R., Van Soelen-Kim J., Grady S., De Melo Ramos T., Koundinya V., DiCaprio E. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · California, USA

Examines produce gleaning within California's community food recovery networks, focusing on food safety and power dynamics in redistributing would-be-wasted produce.

Emmanuel Destenay · Cambridge University Press eBooks · United States

In February 1918, the US Bureau of Education established the United States School Garden Army, an initiative that encouraged children nationwide to engage in local gardening. This program aimed to increase domestic food production, allowing the US to supply food to its allies and other dependent nations. Children participating in the program contributed to food production as unpaid labor, while also learning self-reliance, dietary moderation, and the concept of sacrifice.

Taylor Swenski, Jocelyn Smith Carter, Marjorie Kersten, Elizabeth Berkeley, K. Varner, Howard Rosing · Ecology of Food and Nutrition · United States (Chicago)

The "Grow Your Groceries Home Garden" intervention program, implemented in Chicago, United States in 2022, aimed to improve food access in food-insecure communities. A longitudinal investigation over two annual cycles surveyed 46 participants, complemented by focus groups with 9 participants, to evaluate food access, cost savings, health, and socioemotional outcomes. While results on improved gardening confidence over time emerged non-significant, participants reported increased food access, cost savings, healthier eating, stress reduction, and strengthened relational bonds.

Cláudio Yuri Rodrigues da Silva, Danilo de Souza Sobreira Filho, Leonardo de Mendonça · Revista Brasileira de Cannabis · Brazil

The "Horta Terapêutica Integrada a Atividades Sensoriais e Ecopsicologia" project by Brazil's Association for Socio-Historical Reparation (RESH) aims to address structural social and environmental problems such as food insecurity, social exclusion, and the psychosocial impacts of social vulnerability. This project proposes establishing a RESH Community Garden of approximately 150 m² for organic and medicinal food production, aiming to promote food sovereignty, social justice, and a culture of care benefiting mental health. Its methodology is based on agroecological practices, sensory activities, and ecopsychology principles, inspired by the Manguinhos Community Garden's consolidated experience.

Joonmo Kang, Euijin Jung, Cheryl Holmes, Benjamin Carpenter, Kristin Selby · Journal of Community Practice · United States (Kansas City)

A case study was conducted on New Roots, a farmer training program for resettled refugees and immigrants in Kansas City, USA. The research team participated in the program for a year before interviewing farmers and staff to gain insights into the program's impact. Findings revealed that farmers were drawn to New Roots for its flexibility, perceived benefits for mental well-being, and opportunities for social connection. The program was shown to offer a path to independence and cultivate a sense of community among participants.

Erik Rick Sommerfeld · · United States (Colorado)

This chapter frames the work of ColoradoBuildingWorkshop as a form of critical regionalism addressing issues in the western United States, including human waste, bird patterns, housing shortages, and urban farming in food deserts. The article argues that design-build work influences students and communities, pushes professional boundaries, and expands dialogue around place-form design, architectural education, theory, and community service. It concludes that design-build programs can inspire professional firms and challenge academic institutions to demonstrate the value of higher education.

Júlia de Sousa Peçanha Ramos, William Guimarães de Lima, Larissa Alvarenga Viana, Ester Vitória Basílio Anchieta · Even3 Publicações eBooks · Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

This collection compiles scientific articles produced by UFRJ – Campus Macaé students as part of their Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) discipline. The publication aims to stimulate the development of research competencies, critical thinking, and knowledge production, valuing the interdisciplinary training of students. The selected works address themes related to deafness, Libras, accessibility, inclusion, and Deaf Studies, from different perspectives and methodologies.

Maria de Nazareth Oliveira Maciel, Daniel Pereira Pinheiro, Luann Yago Oliveira Maciel · Veredas do Direito Direito Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentável · Brazil

This study analyzed the contributions and challenges of urban agriculture for food security in three municipalities of the Belém Metropolitan Region, Brazil. Using multivariate factor analysis with 120 producers from November 2023 to February 2024, findings indicated urban agriculture ensures food security and reduces food scarcity concerns. However, the activity lacks public policy incentives for seed acquisition and land titling, hindering its advancement.

Abby M. Lohr, Jazlyn Vargas-Robles, Gladys B. Asiedu, Yahye Ahmed, Hana Dirie, Luz Molina, Graciela Porraz Capetillo, Josh Schachter, Mark L. Wieland, Irene G. Sia · Health Promotion Practice · United States (Minnesota)

This Photovoice study in Southeast Minnesota, US, conducted in fall 2023, collaborated with 14 Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrant health promoters to document their health-related assets and needs. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: healthy choices, inclusion of people and cultural celebrations, and access to opportunity. Participants desired expanded community garden programming, environmental protection, accessible healthy options, access to culturally appropriate foods, and increased access to jobs, affordable housing, and healthcare.

Pierrette Hondagneu‐Sotelo · Revue d’ethnoécologie · United States (Los Angeles)

This article examines urban community gardens and urban farms in Los Angeles as sites for the recreation and re-creation of homelands for Mexican and Central American immigrants. Based on ethnographic research conducted between 2010 and 2023 across several sites, the author demonstrates that these gardens function as hybrid spaces where everyday home-making practices unfold. Gardeners cultivate Mesoamerican plants, materially and symbolically reshaping urban space while forging bonds of attachment to place and community.

Piedley Macêdo Saraiva, Aline Maia de Macedo, Cicera Giovanna Michelly Ferreira de Oliveira, Enzo Fernandes Sá, Laysa Yanne Silva Moreira, Thayla Sousa de Oliveira, Rayna Petrola Rocha Dias Milfont · Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação · Brazil

This study analyzed the implementation of a vertical garden in a nursing home in Juazeiro do Norte-CE, Brazil. The intervention contributed to the reuse of construction waste, the production of toxic-free food, and increased opportunities for interaction among residents and caregivers. However, it also revealed limitations related to the vulnerability of the target audience, scheduling incompatibilities with the academic team, and the institution's dependence on continuous garden maintenance.

Christine Jie Li, John H. Schulz, Sa Tun Bo Bo · Journal of Community Practice · United States

Semi-structured interviews with 18 Burmese refugees in the United States explored their experiences across three types of community-assisted garden programs — individual backyard gardens, personal-use community gardens, and enterprise community-assisted gardens. The interviews produced three broad themes (benefits, challenges, and issues with recruitment and support), with reported benefits including strengthened family relationships, access to culturally relevant and fresh organic vegetables, reduced food budget spending, and improved social relationships, alongside challenges that the study describes as a complex mixture affecting refugees' nutritional, economic and social well-being.

Swayangsiddha Nayak, Lalita Dhal, Sheri Dorn, Julie H. Campbell · Urban forestry & urban greening · United States

A longitudinal qualitative participatory action research study conducted between 2023 and 2024 at a Southeastern U.S. university examined how international students engage with an autonomous, student-led campus community garden, using Berry's Acculturation Theory to explore motivations and the physical, social and psychological barriers they encountered. The study found a cyclical acculturation process in which the garden's autonomy fostered belonging through growing culturally relevant produce and intercultural exchange, while limited institutional support generated uncertainty, mistrust and communication barriers that caused students to oscillate between feelings of integration and separation, eventually prompting self-advocacy and co-leadership structures among the students.

Lauren J Franks · FHSU Scholars Repository (Fort Hays State University) · United States (Kansas)

The Community Cultivation program, a grant proposal project focused on Hays, Kansas, in the United States, sets out a plan for how a community garden could improve access to healthy food in rural areas. Guided by the question of how community-based food initiatives can reduce nutrition-related disparities, the proposal responds to the HaysMed Community Health Needs Assessment, which identifies nutrition and fresh produce access as critical concerns for Ellis County. With an emphasis on food-insecure and low-income individuals, the planned garden aims to reduce health disparities tied to socioeconomic status and strengthen community connections by building gardening and cooking skills. It proposes a multi-phase implementation plan involving collaboration with sustainable landscapers, development of gardening infrastructure, and educational classes, with visitor logs and participant surveys planned to track access to fresh produce, garden usage and skills applied; data collection and analysis are planned to continue throughout implementation.

Ms. E. Indumathi, R. Ragavi, M. Sandhiya · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · United States

This article surveys initiatives that countries have developed over decades to address the impact of food waste on hunger, including food donation programs and partnerships between large grocery chains and local food banks. In the United States, such efforts are described as distributing food to roughly 37 million hungry Americans each year. Innovative approaches cited include establishing community gardens, expanding access to local farmers' markets, promoting purchase of local produce, and educating communities about the negative impacts of food waste. It highlights the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (FBCE), which provides food assistance and training through more than 800 partner agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters), and Waste No Food, a platform connecting food donors (restaurants, caterers, grocery stores) with food rescue organizations while letting donors track their donations.

Marcelo Budal Cabral, Alysson Maia Fontenele · Revista JurisFIB · Brazil

This legal article examines the significance of urban agriculture for greening cities and for greenhouse gas mitigation and climate adaptation in Brazil. Using bibliographic and documentary research with a hermeneutic approach, it analyzes precedents including the Inter-American Court of Human Rights' Advisory Opinion 32/2025 (climate emergency) and the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court's Arguição de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental 708 (Climate Fund case), alongside the national Urban and Periurban Agriculture Policy and other normative texts. It concludes that ecological and climate protection duties, reinforced by these court precedents, require implementing and fostering urban agriculture in order to realize the right to a healthy climate.

Ruyu Liu, Daniel Harwood, Ora Kemp, Alyson Rosenthal, Roger Figueroa, PhD, MPH, MSc · Public Health Nutrition · United States (New York City)

A quasi-experimental pilot study with 3-month follow-up assessed a food pantry-led, subsidized community-supported agriculture (CSA) program called Farm Share in New York City. Farm Share provided biweekly bags of about 25 pounds of fresh produce at $5 per bag; control participants were recruited from a comparable food pantry without CSA (Farm Share n=54, control n=69), predominantly Hispanic/Latino, Black or African American, foreign-born, female and with a high school education or lower. Retention at follow-up was 65.0% (Farm Share n=33, control n=47). Skin carotenoids increased by 12 points in the Farm Share group relative to control, adjusted for smoking status, age, sex and birthplace (P=0.005), but total Healthy Eating Index (HEI) declined by 6.3 points (P=0.031) and the saturated fats HEI component declined by 1.1 point (P=0.027) in the Farm Share group. Improvements in fruit and vegetable intake (P=0.25) and food security (P=0.16) were not statistically significant.

City of Atlanta (AgLanta) · AgLanta (City of Atlanta, official) · United States

This official City of Atlanta (AgLanta) page describes the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill, a 7.1-acre site in a designated food desert acquired by The Conservation Fund in fall 2016 and developed as Atlanta's first community urban food forest, growing fruit, nuts, vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms for public consumption. It is framed as part of the city's goal to bring healthy food within a half mile of 85% of Atlanta residents by 2022, funded in part through the U.S. Forest Service's community forestry program.

· Wikipedia · United States

This Wikipedia article on Robert Putnam's 2000 book Bowling Alone describes its central argument as the reduction in all forms of in-person social intercourse in the United States, evidenced by decreased voter turnout, attendance at public meetings, service on committees, and an aggregate loss in membership and volunteers in many existing civic organizations. It cites the example that while the number of people who bowled increased over the prior 20 years, the number who bowled in leagues decreased. Putnam attributes the decline in civic engagement since 1965 to roughly: television/electronic entertainment 25%, generational change 50%, pressures of time and two-career families 10%, suburbanization/commuting 10%, and unexplained 15-20%.

NYC Parks (New York City Department of Parks & Recreation) · NYC Parks · United States

This NYC Parks page introduces GreenThumb, established in 1978 and described as the nation's largest urban gardening program, sustaining over 550 community gardens and supporting thousands of volunteer gardeners across the five boroughs. It explains the program originated from derelict vacant lots left by the city's 1970s fiscal crisis, and operates through three teams—Community Engagement, Operations, and Planning and Programs—providing free materials, technical assistance, and educational workshops.

Sole Food Street Farms · Sole Food Street Farms · Canada

Founded in 2009, Sole Food Street Farms is a social enterprise that converts vacant lots into productive farmland around Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. It trains and employs residents facing complex barriers, selling and donating fresh produce.

Black Creek Community Farm · Black Creek Community Farm · Canada

An 8-acre urban agriculture centre in Toronto's Jane and Finch neighbourhood. In 2024 it harvested 31,046 pounds across 49 crops and 115 varieties, engaged 7,500 program participants, donated 3,066 pounds of food to food banks, held over 200 workshops, and provided over 60 youth employment opportunities.

The Stop Community Food Centre · The Stop Community Food Centre · Canada

The official site of The Stop Community Food Centre, a Toronto-based food organization operating for over 40 years, running a food bank, community kitchen, and urban agriculture programs. It serves 522 meals per week, draws 126,000 annual farmers market visitors, and is supported by 180 volunteers, emphasizing community empowerment over a charity model.