A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COMMUNITY GARDEN SYSTEMS IN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR ROLE IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Abstract

Summary Brownfield and derelict sites are a global issue and within inner city neighbourhoods they are often associated with poverty, crime, drugs and neglect. In the current climate of Agenda 21 these negative issues are not conducive to the issue of sustainability. This poses the question of what can be done in these areas to reduce these problems and help create more sustainable communities. A comparative study explores the benefits and key features of German allotment gardens and American community gardens with a view to their possible implementation into inner city derelict and Brownfield regeneration in the UK and other countries. Their benefits can be appreciated through comparison of the two models, whilst considering whether community gardens have a role in helping to create sustainable communities that positively impact the negative social, economic and environmental issues associated with derelict sites in inner city neighbourhoods.