Thematic patterns related to adequate and healthy food associated with participation in urban gardens were identified, revealing a positive impact on practices of adequate and healthy food and mainly on food perceptions.

Urban agriculture has been the subject of many research in Brazil and worldwide, mainly concern ing the employment and income generation. This article aims to systematize the experience of the project "Colhendo Sustentabilidade: práticas co munitárias de segurança alimentar e agricultura urbana" [Achieving Sustainability: community practices of food security and urban agriculture] (PCS), held in Embu das Artes, São Paulo metro politan region, between 2008 and 2011, analyzing it from the perspective of Health Promotion (HP). The participants of the research were the public services technicians and technical team members involved in the project. The data were obtained by conduct ing three workshops of systematization, followed by another in which the results were presented to the participants, and also by interviews with key informants. The same data were analyzed based on the action principles and fields of HP. The findings presented agroecological urban agriculture (AUA) as a tool for health promotion due to its contribution to the strengthening of individual and community leadership, empowerment, creation of conducive environments for health, as well as its potential for "knowledge" multiplication, by those involved in topics related to income generation, health and environment.

Hortas comunitárias como atividade promotora de saúde: uma experiência em Unidades Básicas de SaúdeCommunity vegetable gardens as a health promotion activity: an experience in Primary Healthcare Units

Agroecological urban agriculture -strategy for health promotion and food and nutrition security RESUMOObjetivo: Realizar uma reflexão acerca da agricultura urbana agroecológica articulada aos movimentos de promoção da saúde e de segurança alimentar e nutricional, com a participação das comunidades locais. Síntese dos dados: Pesquisa documental realizada por meio da leitura e análise de relatório, de registros de atividades de campo, de depoimentos de participantes e entrevista realizada com a coordenação do projeto. Percebeu-se a contribuição da agricultura urbana agroecológica no protagonismo comunitário, na participação popular e no desenvolvimento da consciência alimentar e ambiental dos atores sociais envolvidos. Conclusões: Foram identificados aspectos relevantes e em consonância com os princípios e campos de atuação da Promoção da Saúde, em especial, o fortalecimento da intersetorialidade, o empoderamento local, o protagonismo individual e coletivo, a criação de ambientes saudáveis e a mobilização comunitária.

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