Barriers and enablers for private residential urban food gardening: The case of the City of Hobart, Australia

Abstract

Home food gardening is an important component of urban agriculture and sustainable food systems. However, globally there has been limited research into the barriers and enablers to home food gardening in cities. This study used an exploratory approach, utilising a questionnaire survey of households, and in-depth interviews with gardening experts, to assess barriers and enablers to home food gardening in the City of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Overall, nine themes were identified that were common across both survey and interview data. These were time, cost, space, knowledge, ownership, soil, wildlife and pests, mobility, support and access, and community. Barriers vary depending on individual circumstances and are often compounding. Our results indicate that while many households are now growing food, or are interested in growing food, there are limitations on the percentage of food intake that households can grow at home. Key factors to growing more food include control over property, available land, and gardening experience and know-how. Our findings highlight the need for policy, programs, and resources, especially at the level of local governments, that can contribute to an increase in the amount of local, home grown food in cities.