Community Gardens Research Articles

Food as a public service for people and pollinators: evidence-based insights from regenerative placemaking in New Zealand—the Waharoa living lab

ABSTRACT This action research project transformed a former bowling green into a public, inclusive, edible landscape in Waharoa, Aotearoa-New Zealand, where everyone is welcome to help themselves to fruits and vegetables free of charge and without being asked to work on the land. This 400 m2 Living Lab (LL) differs from community gardens, which are increasingly seen as privatising public land. The LL involved multi-stakeholder cooperation (government, community, and academia) and produced benefits that research participants perceived as transition pathways to more nutritious dietary choices, health education, and reduced criminality in a socially deprived region. The analyses of interviews, observations, and pollinator surveys conducted at the Waharoa LL (which confirmed that 14 visiting species were drawn by the LL) were coupled with insights from prior scholarship to put forward an approach to regenerative placemaking that articulates human and non-human perspectives and serves a planetary purpose combining human health and biodiversity benefits.

From School Gardens to Community Oases: Fostering Environmental and Social Resilience in Urban Spaces

This case study in the municipality of Acharnes, Greece, examines a local initiative that transforms schoolyards into community gardens, involving teachers, pupils, parents, grandparents, and neighbors. The research explores participants’ perceptions of these transformations, with a focus on interactions with non-human beings such as pollinators. Data were collected using a questionnaire completed by 85 participants, including parents and guardians of pupils and school staff. Data analysis was conducted using statistical software to evaluate the research sample. Initially, descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions, were used to summarize the demographic and baseline variables of the sample. Next, Kendall’s tau correlation was applied to assess statistically significant relationships, such as those between age and proximity to green spaces, as well as gender, education, and green space preferences. The results of the survey reveal the “embrace” of these new urban green areas by both the school and the local community. This study, as part of an effort to address broader challenges in urban contexts, highlights the need for further in-depth exploration and examination of these dynamics to provide valuable insights into the design and management of school gardens. The aim is to enhance community engagement and urban biodiversity, with a central focus on social and environmental resilience.

Measuring characteristics of wild and cultivated food environments: a scoping review

BackgroundGlobal food systems are essential to sustain life; however, unhealthy diets are the leading cause of poor health and death worldwide. Natural food environments are a critical source of healthful food such as fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and aquatic foods, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and Indigenous food systems. Understanding and monitoring natural food environments is critical to protecting the supply of healthy food, and the land and water it comes from, for current and future generations.MethodsA scoping review was applied to classify and summarise empirical methods and measures used for characterising natural food environments. The ways in which food environment characteristics are conceptualised and measured for natural (wild and cultivated) food environments were explored. Data were extracted from the included studies using the following fields: study country, aim/objective(s), type of natural food environment (wild vs. cultivated), method or measure used to measure the food environment, key food environment characteristic/s (up to four) measured and key findings in relation to the food environment measurement.ResultsOne hundred forty seven studies were found to be relevant in this review. Most studies investigated food environments in LMICs, with almost two-thirds of all studies focussing on middle-income countries (n = 89, 61%). There was a strong focus on food security and home-based agriculture from studies that measured the cultivated food environment in LMICs, while the majority of studies on the cultivated food environment from high-income countries focussed on urban and community gardening. In addition to the most common survey-based methodological approaches, our review yielded a broad range of both qualitative and quantitative methods for measuring natural food environments, such as geospatial analysis; biochemical analysis of food, soil and water; citizen science; photovoice and food availability calendars.ConclusionsOur review demonstrated that the concept and characteristics of the food environment are a promising conceptualization for measuring natural food environments, particularly in relation to food availability, healthiness and food security. Mapping the currently used methods and measures to assess natural food environments is important to help identify critical leverage points for strengthening policy interventions, and monitoring and evaluation of progress.

The role of community gardens in achieving UNSDG 11, Target 7: safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces

ABSTRACT This paper examines the contributions that community gardens can make in achieving Target 7 of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, namely, to ‘provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces’ (UN 2021). The paper focuses on a subset of green and public spaces, namely community gardens, to examine if their features enhance the capacity of public spaces to contribute to achieving target 11.7. In doing so, the paper applies a more expansive definition of ‘inclusive’ than that currently suggested by the target. The paper draws on findings from interviews with participants in several types of community gardens in Australia. The data indicates that community gardens contribute to solving the challenges of UNSDG 11.7, by improving the inclusivity and activation of public spaces through their design features, governance and community involvement. The development of additional target indicators that planners and policy makers can use to measure progress towards meeting the target is an area in need of further research. KEY FINDINGS Community gardens are effective sites for enacting UNSDG 11 Target 7. Community involvement in the design and governance of community gardens contributes to their inclusivity, safety and accessibility as a local public space. Secure tenure, well-chosen locations and sufficient resourcing can improve the ability of community gardens to meet SDG 11 Target 7.

La zotea: saberes performados, territorios afro y experiencias ontológico-estéticas en la escuela

This article explores the reflections on and ways of appropriation of a critical intercultural process approaching the practices and knowledge of Afro-Colombian peoples through the virtual, narrative, and physical resignification of zoteas or ancestral community gardens by Afro-Pacific populations at schools in Bogotá. An emerging process was identified through ethnographic recording in an intensive diary and student audiovisual content production on Afro-diasporic and indigenous peoples; there, the articulation of ancestral practices with experimental artistic disciplines, such as performance, shed light on other ancestral knowledge. This intervention builds bridges that connect the process with contemporary expressions of the Afro worldview such as “re-existences,” “vivir sabroso” or “intimate sufficiencies” and allowed us to question and gradually transform the organization of time, space, and roles in the construction of knowledge and meaning at school.

Supporting new gardeners: Perspectives of gardeners and garden leaders

While gardening has been shown to have wide-ranging benefits, very little research has focused on the experiences of new community gardeners. Our study emined the experiences of new community gardeners, as well as the perspectives of garden leaders, to determine how to best meet new com­munity gardeners’ needs. We conducted qualitative interviews with a subset of new community gar­deners (N = 34) participating in a randomized con­trolled trial (RCT) of community gardening, and garden leaders (N = 47). New community garden­ers learned to garden through classes, from other gardeners and leaders, from friends and family, and through teaching themselves. Garden leaders pro­vided varied support to new community gardeners, including hands-on assistance and orientations. The events and degree of social interactions with other gardeners in the gardens also varied, although most gardens had a culture of helping and reci­procity, and gardeners frequently brought family and friends with them to their gardens. Challenges reported by new community gardeners and leaders included lack of gardening knowledge and support; responsibility and time commitment of gardening; poor communication from garden leaders; water, weeds, and pests; plot abandonment; and theft, vandalism, and safety. New community gardeners desired and benefited from social interaction, guid­ance, and support in their gardens. However, because garden leaders already have substantial gar­den responsibilities, placing this responsibility solely on garden leaders is frequently not feasible. This study provides insight into new community gardeners’ experiences and can be used to inform programs that support gardeners.

Evaluation of Resettled Residents’ Engagement in Community Gardens and Preferences for Garden Development Factors in Beijing

Resettlement communities arising from China’s urbanization process accommodate both landless resettled villagers and non-resettled villagers who migrate to cities for work. Community gardens help increase interactions in resettlement communities and facilitate the integration of resettled residents into the community. This paper, based on the differing characteristics of resettled and non-resettled villagers in China’s resettlement communities and the scarcity of outdoor public space, studies the participation willingness of resettled residents and their preferences for the construction of community gardens. Firstly, this study establishes a system of community garden construction elements for resettlement communities and conducts a Likert scale survey of residents in 30 resettlement communities in Beijing (n = 832). Secondly, variance analysis is used to explore the impact of demographic characteristics on garden preferences. Finally, a multiple linear regression model is employed to study the correlation between resettled residents’ willingness to participate in community gardens and the construction elements. The results show that (1) both resettled villagers and non-villagers have a willingness to participate in community gardens, and the spatial enhancement, facility supplementation, economic compensation, community integration, and identity recognition of garden construction elements are positively correlated with residents’ willingness to participate, with spatial enhancement having the strongest effect; (2) community gardens help achieve integration between resettled and non-resettled villagers; (3) gardens help enhance the identity recognition of resettled villagers. In summary, integrating community gardens into resettlement communities helps increase residents’ social interactions, enhances their sense of belonging, and assists resettled residents in integrating into urban society.

Community gardening: metaphorical reconstruction of transformative health governance

Abstract Transdisciplinary working has been defined by the inclusion of non-academic stakeholders in the process of knowledge production. While theoretical, phenomenological and experimental dimensions have been described in the literature, Rigolot proposes transdisciplinarity as a ‘way of being’ that stretches beyond professional life. The promise of transdisciplinarity however does not always meet the expectations in practice. How to get started, maintain and overcome barriers requires guidance. In an action-oriented evaluation research study we explored this dimension in the Dutch All about Health collaborative platform, which since 2014 facilitates a continuous development of bottom up health initiatives, networks, alliances and other forms of collaboration and learning. From our case studies we developed the Transformative Health Governance model. The model shows the ongoing and reciprocal connections between the actions, the context and intermediate results that were verified in a survey among 103 platform participants. Five types of returns are also building blocks that increase the chance of real (yet hardly measurable) increasing health benefits. They reinforce each other in a continuous process of ideation, integrative approach, innovation, implementation, and impact. The context provides for acceleration or deceleration of that process. With the help of a cartoonist we translated our model into an ongoing cycle of community gardening and maintenance. This metaphor makes the intangible of underlying social processes more tangible, providing a bit more grip on the building blocks, timing and time aspects, as well as deeper understanding the role and necessity of conflict and explicit conflict engagement rather than management. Moreover the cartoon elicits recognition, acknowledgement and spirit to continue their rowing against the systems-invoked tide for better health. It serves as a concrete aid to transdisciplinary working towards planetary health.

7.X.2. Planetary Health: metaphorical visualizations of transdisciplinary working in practice

Abstract Across public health and healthcare practices, we signal low awareness and little urgency for Planetary Health among health professionals as well as lacking or lagging implementation of planned policies. Planetary health requires a ‘just do it’ mentality with a transdisciplinary and reflection-in-action approach. There is a need for a bottom up movement, but HOW to get started and HOW to persevere against all odds? This 25 minute pecha kaucha session is aimed at facilitating transdisciplinary learning for planetary health action. We will start with a brief introduction to the concept of Planetary Health, followed by two short presentations on two metaphorical work processes underlying the startup of a flowering community garden and the preparations for a delicious Italian lasagna. The second half of the session is dedicated to a creative exercise with the audience, generating multiple metaphors in small groups using picture cards, paper drawings. We finalize this session by collaboratively building a visualised sea with transdisciplinary waves of metaphorical innovations that, instead of litter and pollution, make our beaches and shores stronger foundations protective of our planetary life. Key messages • Planetary health requires a ‘just do it’ mentality with a transdisciplinary reflection-in-action approach. • Metaphorical reasoning visualizes social reality and boosts Planetary health mentality, community spirit and transdisciplinary action.

Exploring community gardens on mental well-being among urban dwellers in Lagos, Nigeria

Purpose: In Lagos, Nigeria, Rapid urbanization raises serious concerns about mental well-being due to limited green spaces and social isolation; hence, this qualitative study aims to investigate the experiences of individuals engaged in community gardens and their effect on mental health. Method: This research uses semi-structured interviews with five individuals engaged in Lagos community gardens to thoroughly investigate their influence on mental well-being. Result: The findings demonstrate an increased social connection, improved mood, and reduced stress, through nature contact, and gardening. Also, the findings review that community gardens contributed to overall well-being, provided opportunities for mindfulness, and physical activity, and facilitated a sense of belonging Conclusion: The novelty of the research is that it sheds light on the specific experiences of Nigerians in community gardens and their perceived mental health benefits, thereby, pinpointing the potential of these spaces in tackling the urban mental health issues. This systematic study informs the development of culturally relevant community gardens as accessible interventions to enhance mental well-being in Lagos and similar urban settings.

Valuing ecosystem services of community gardens in developing countries: a case study of Dezful City in Iran

Allotment (AGs) and community gardens (CGs) are types of urban gardens that provide diverse ecosystem services (ESs) such as climate regulation, beautiful landscapes, biodiversity and food security. Despite this, there are no AGs or CGs in many developing countries such as Iran. One of the main reasons for the lack of development of CGs in developing countries is the lack of proper understanding by policy-makers and citizens regarding the economic value of the ESs provided and the lack of disclosure of the benefits of its construction in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to analyse the preferences of citizens, to examine the existence of a potential market, to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for the creation and operation of CG services and to investigate the factors affecting residents’ WTP in Dezful, Iran. For this purpose, a choice experiment, based on the stated preferences valuation approach, was applied through interviews with 170 respondents living in Dezful urban area. The data were collected during the autumn of 2022 and analysed using conditional logit model. The results indicated that the responding citizens are willing to pay 4.57 USD per month to create CG and operate its ESs in Dezful. Amongst the attributes and ESs of the community garden, citizens valued cultural services the most, followed by provisioning services. In addition, the variables “age”, “being native”, “education”, “household expenditure level” and “awareness and recognition of CG ecosystem services” had a significant effect on WTP. According to the results, it is suggested to follow the policy of creating CGs with the participation of citizens instead of focusing only on the creation of urban green space with a government budget and heavy financial burden. CGs, while providing diverse ESs, can generate sustainable incomes for municipalities and accelerate the movement toward sustainable urban development.

Restorative and regenerative green spaces for vulnerable communities in social housing: The impact of a community greening program

Vulnerable communities represent the most at-risk populations facing inequities and negative health, economic and social wellbeing outcomes. Community gardening has emerged globally as a community-based remedy to reduce these inequities and enhance wellbeing. This paper examines the psychological, socio-cultural and health impact of social housing design that includes access to, and engagement with green spaces. The project was multi-disciplinary and used mixed-method research to examine the impact of community gardening for people in social housing. Two interrelated studies were conducted; study 1 involved 33 social housing gardeners in a pre-post program survey. Statistically significant improvements were found in participants' satisfaction with personal wellbeing, health, and community connectedness; as well as increased gardening skills, positive social experiences, and time spent in nature. Study 2 involved 34 semi-structured interviews conducted with program facilitators and partner organisation staff. Results uncovered that participant's engagement with gardening was restorative and regenerative. Four salient themes emerged from our mixed methods study: 1) connection to self; 2) connection to others, 3) connection to place; and 4) connection to purpose. The findings showcase some of the key principles of a successful social and nature prescription intervention for vulnerable people. Community gardening was shown to amplify civic pride and bolster community resilience. Our research suggests the broad impact of community gardening on participant outcomes for vulnerable populations and enhances the capacity of practitioners to translate research into policy and practice for sustainable, restorative residential communities.

The Intention of Community Garden Participation: A Case Study in Community Garden of Taman Tasik Ilmu, Kota Seriemas

Malaysia's population is projected to reach approximately 41.5 million by 2040, marking a significant increase from its current population. This projection is based on various factors, including birth rates, death rates, and migration trends. With this rapid population increase, the urbanization rate is expected to rise, leading to concerns about food security. Ensuring food security becomes a pressing issue, as the country must produce or import enough food to feed its population. This is where community garden programs and other local food production initiatives can play a significant role in supplementing food supply and promoting sustainable agriculture. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced in 2015, specifically Goal No. 2 (Zero Hunger), emphasize the need to address food security issues. One of Malaysia's strategies to achieve Goal No. 2 is through the implementation of community garden programs. However, the success of such programs largely depends on the intention and volunteerism of community participants. This study aims to explore the intention behind community garden participation at Taman Tasik Ilmu. Data was collected using an online questionnaire with 40 participants. The questionnaire gathered information on demographics, gardening knowledge, reasons for participation, and opinions on facilities and garden management. Descriptive analysis was employed to analyze the collected data. The results indicated that the primary motivation for participants to join the community garden program was to fill their free time. This finding suggests that aligning the objectives of community garden programs with the intentions of participants may enhance their success and sustainability.

URBAN REGENERATION AND PUBLIC SPACE: LESSONS ON EARLY INTERVENTION OF COMMUNITY-BASED MICRO-PLANNING

Documenting lessons learned from revitalization projects through community-based micro-planning is crucial in developing countries, as it lacks mainstream urban regeneration recognition. This research aimed to evaluate the early intervention of community gardening or urban farming initiatives under an urban regeneration project: the Special Area Action Plan Section 13, Petaling Jaya City, Malaysia. This single case study was investigated using the mixed-methods approach. In the quantitative approach, 200 samples were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. In the qualitative approach, eight interviews were conducted and analyzed via thematic analysis. The findings show that the respondents are sceptical about the awareness, safety infrastructure and support services, caretaker, and land ownership concerns surrounding the proposal for community gardening at the Sungai Penchala monsoon drain area. When revitalizing left-over urban public spaces, authorities are recommended to plan more awareness intervention campaigns, enhance safety infrastructure designs, provide policy support in appointing caretakers, and resolve land acquisition matters to realize and sustain the regeneration projects in the public interest. This study contributes lessons learned by auditing the early intervention urban regeneration initiatives in development plans, particularly in fourth-tier-community-based micro-planning in a developing country.

Individual- and environmental-level determinants of fruit and vegetable intakes in rural Georgia.

To investigate the ways in which food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, and perceived and objective food access influence fruit and vegetable intakes among rural Georgians. A population-based survey was merged with USDA's Food Access Research Atlas, and multilevel modeling was used to determine individual-level (eg, food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, perceived access) and environmental-level (eg, census tract food access) predictors of fruit and vegetable intakes. Twenty-four rural census tracts in 6 counties in Georgia, USA. One thousand four hundred and seventy-four adults. Residing in a low food access census tract was not associated with fruit or vegetable intake. Food insecurity had negative effects on both fruit and vegetable intakes. Perceived access to fresh fruits and vegetables was positively associated with fruit intake, and obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables from community or home gardens was positively associated with both fruit and vegetable intakes. Findings are unique from previous research on census tract-level fruit and vegetable determinants, underscoring the need for a better understanding of influences on fruit and vegetable intakes among rural populations. Interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in rural areas should prioritize food security.

Pollution gradients shape microbial communities associated with Ae. albopictus larval habitats in urban community gardens.

The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is well adapted to urban environments and takes advantage of the artificial containers that proliferate in anthropized landscapes. Little is known about the physicochemical, pollutant, and microbiota compositions of Ae. albopictus-colonized aquatic habitats and whether these properties differ with noncolonized habitats. We specifically addressed this question in French community gardens by investigating whether pollution gradients (characterized either by water physicochemical properties combined with pollution variables or by the presence of organic molecules in water) influence water microbial composition and then the presence/absence of Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. Interestingly, we showed that the physicochemical and microbial compositions of noncolonized and colonized waters did not significantly differ, with the exception of N2O and CH4 concentrations, which were higher in noncolonized water samples. Moreover, the microbial composition of larval habitats covaried differentially along the pollution gradients according to colonization status. This study opens new avenues on the impact of pollution on mosquito habitats in urban areas and raises questions on the influence of biotic and abiotic interactions on adult life-history traits and their ability to transmit pathogens to humans.

Enhancing Urban Climate Resistance Through the Application of Selected Strategies and Technologies

Adapting cities for climate resilience is crucial as climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. This study outlines a comprehensive set of resilience strategies aimed at enhancing urban resilience across four key domains: water, food, shelter, and energy. These strategies, applicable to both new and existing neighborhoods, range from simple, short-term measures to complex, long-term initiatives. A three-pronged evaluation framework, consisting of three platforms, is introduced to assess these strategies where criteria are initially selected based on their impact on strategy adoption and implementation. This framework employs hypothetical scores and weights that can be adjusted for specific urban contexts through detailed studies. Key outcomes of the evaluation conducted in the first platform include a systematic method to rank strategies based on six criteria: cost, infrastructure impact, scalability, regulatory and zoning challenges, community acceptance, and maintenance needs. For example, community gardens and rainwater harvesting systems are highly scalable and accepted, whereas green roofs require more investment and maintenance. The second and third platform of the framework facilitate the identification of strategies that enhance resilience across each of the resilience domains, as well as across several domains. The results highlight the top-performing strategies under different weighted scenarios. Strategies like green roofs strategy scores high in domains like water management, due to its capacity to absorb and manage stormwater, and energy, by providing natural insulation that reduces heating and cooling demands. Additionally, green roofs contribute to food production when utilized for urban agriculture and enhance shelter by improving building durability and increasing biodiversity This data-driven framework supports the strategic prioritization of resilience strategies, enhancing urban planning and investment decisions globally. Its modularity ensures adaptability to diverse urban settings and climatic issues.

An informal and transformative learning environment: The case of ODTÜ Bostan community garden in Turkey

This study explores the role of ODTÜ Bostan (METU Garden), a community garden at the Middle East Technical University in Turkey, in promoting sustainability education, ecology, and food consumption practices. For ten years, ODTÜ Bostan has been a collaborative space where participants—including students, academic and non-academic staff, and their families—grow and share food using ecological agricultural methods. This research examines how this community garden creates a setting for alternative and interdisciplinary learning, supporting practical engagement, critical thinking, and community interaction for community participants. Drawing on the Education for Sustainable Development and transformative learning frameworks, this qualitative study employs autoethnography, thematic analysis of eight semi-structured interviews, and content analysis of archival data. The findings indicate that ODTÜ Bostan not only enhances participants' sustainability competencies but also serves as an educational laboratory, demonstrating the potential of community gardens to address global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The study highlights the importance of integrating interdisciplinary and learner-centered approaches in higher education leading to collective action for societal change toward sustainability.

The community contributions of urban farms in Singapore

ABSTRACT While urban farms are embedded in communities, little is known about their contributions to communities themselves, with most previous research on urban agriculture being focused on community gardens. Here we review existing literature on urban farms’ community contributions and discuss a case study of three farms in Singapore. Using content analysis on 27 interviews with employees and volunteers, we found the farms to empower participants, generate social capital, provide jobs, involve marginalized groups, and promote pro-environmental behaviors. The farms were limited by poor job prospects and lower-than-expected yield. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Community gardens support high levels of food production, but benefit distribution is uneven across the gardener community

Urban community gardens are important social–ecological systems from which urban citizens receive many benefits. In this study of 18 urban community gardens in the Central Coast of California, USA, we use a combination of gardener surveys and field-based measurements to evaluate the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables produced by gardeners. We then investigate how food production differed between segments of the gardening population, specifically as a function of gardening experience, time spent in gardens, and food security status. Lastly, we ask gardeners to describe their motivations for gardening to better understand how motivations may relate to individual levels of food production. Thirty-eight percent of gardeners estimate harvesting one to five pounds of food per week, with another 26% estimating six to ten pounds. These estimates were corroborated by field measurements of tomato, squash, and pepper cultivation, where gardeners produced, at the height of the harvest season, an average of four pounds of food per week—an estimated savings of ~ $16USD per week (compared to the cost of local organic fruits and vegetables, June 2023 prices). Regarding the ability of community gardens to reduce food insecurity, gardeners who spent more time in the garden and with higher incomes reported higher food security, while those with larger families or lower incomes were more food insecure. These results show that gardeners in most need of food support were not necessarily the ones cultivating the most fruits and vegetables. While 48% of gardeners reported food cultivation as a primary motivator for gardening, many other motivations (e.g., hobby, being outdoors, relaxation, social interaction, and exercise) were identified as reasons to spend time in the garden, indicating that food production is not the only factor motivating gardeners. Overall, we document that community gardens can be highly productive and provide valuable produce that substantially offsets high fresh food costs; however, gardeners with the greatest food needs are currently not the largest producers, but could benefit from additional resources and support.