Impact Indicators for Community Garden Programs: Using Delphi Methods to Inform Program Development and Evaluation

Diaz, John M.; Webb, Susan E.; Warner, Laura A.; Monoghan, Paul

doi:10.21273/horttech03848-17

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…In cases where bonding social capital was weak within a CG, either due to limited opportunities for community participation during the development of the garden or due to a sense of disconnect with the neighborhood at large, participants often portrayed the lack of community engagement as the greatest barrier facing the garden. This perspective is consistent with the findings of previous research studies that cite participation as a key challenge to the success of CGs (Diaz et al 2017;Drake and Lawson 2015b).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Seeds, soil and social connections: growing community in community gardens

et al. 2021

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Research shows that community gardens (CGs) can improve the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of individuals and communities, particularly in low-income and historically underserved neighborhoods. While researchers have documented numerous individual and collective benefits gained through participation in CGs, there are few studies that address the barriers faced during the developmental stages of CGs in terms of social dynamics that can impede longevity. In order for Extension agents, urban planners, community leaders and other stakeholders to successfully develop CGs that serve the needs of their respective stakeholders, they must be able to assist CGs in overcoming barriers to group collaboration, strengthening and expanding social networks, and securing access to essential resources. Knowing the different types of social relationships, such as close and friendly ones among peers in the garden and more distant and complicated ones with outside agencies, and the role they play in the development and maintenance of CGs helps provide solutions for overcoming barriers to success. This study uses social capital theory to examine how social networks may facilitate and/or hinder resource mobilization for community garden development and longevity. Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observations engaged CG members and stakeholders throughout Florida to share their insights and experiences of participating in CG projects. Findings revealed participants' perceptions of the benefits and barriers of community gardens, motivations for participation, and perspectives on variables that influence CGs' success. Findings suggest that all three types of social capital, Bonding, Bridging and Linking, play an essential role in the successful development and longevity of CGs. Bonding capital is the glue that holds the garden together, as it represents the internal relationships that are fostered between the individuals engaged in establishing and maintaining a CG. Bridging capital is the channel through which CGs gain access to critical resources external to the garden itself, such as education, gardening materials, and volunteer labor. Linking capital, the most challenging type of social capital to establish, can help ensure longevity for a CG by achieving buy-in from powerful institutions such as local government officials and/or grantors. This research has policy implications for government agencies, community development efforts, the non-profit sector, and Cooperative Extension. These stakeholders that wish for CGs to succeed and thrive can recognize and strengthen the relationships SN Soc Sci (2021) 1:244 244 Page 2 of 22among CG members at each level of social capital, primarily by reducing obstacles. Recommendations for policy changes and use of best practices are discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Seeds, soil and social connections: growing community in community gardens

et al. 2021

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Growing Roots: The role of collective community gardening in cultural food insecurity and social integration of African Immigrants in Edmonton, AB

Otoadese¹,

Kamara²,

Onyango¹

2024

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Background: Food insecurity is a public health challenge that has worsened with increasing cost of living due to inflation and the COVID-19 aftermath. Social and economic inequalities have deepened as communities on the margins especially immigrants experience increased inequities in accessing basic amenities such as housing and food. In Canada, immigrants are experiencing financial and cultural food insecurity. However, limited knowledge exists on the role of collective community gardens in addressing these aspects of food insecurity. Methods: We conducted a community-based participatory research (CBPR) informed by an Afrocentric lens using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Data collection involved an online survey (n=119) which was co-developed and co-administered by our community partners - Sinkunia Community Development Organization (SCDO). The questionnaires were pre-tested with a subsample of community members to ensure reliability and validity of the tool. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were also conducted with purposefully sampled participants (n=10) to obtain nuanced narratives. This study included Black African immigrants from 13 sub-Saharan countries. Individuals from Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe are represented in the sample. Results: High prevalence of food insecurity (75.6%, n=90) was observed in the sample (n=119), higher than the general Canadian household prevalence rate. Participants recalled experiencing food insecurity ranging from mild (39.5%, n=47) to moderate (26.1%, n=31), and severe (10.1%, n=12) food insecurity in the recall period. High prevalence of cultural food insecurity was also observed, most (80.7%, n=96) of participants reported experiencing deprivation. Participants reported occasional struggles accessing cultural food, primarily due to high costs, limited availability, and worries about the quality. Participants demonstrated resilience and adaptability in maintaining their cultural foodways amid these challenges. About 4 in 5 participants engaged in some form of gardening. Engagement in collective community gardening provided spaces for cultivating connections to food production and shaping Black immigrant individuals’ relationship with the food environment. These “third spaces” serve as cultural melting pots with collective work fostering both intercultural and intergenerational bridges through embedding cultural foodways into children’s everyday experiences. Conclusion: Food insecurity remains a critical issue for Black immigrants in Edmonton, Alberta who are experiencing elevated risk. Our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence on the embodied benefits of community gardens for food security and social placemaking of immigrant populations. High interest and engagement in gardening activities in the population suggests potential for expansion of community-led initiatives.

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Impact Indicators for Community Garden Programs: Using Delphi Methods to Inform Program Development and Evaluation

Cited by 2 publications

References 18 publications

Seeds, soil and social connections: growing community in community gardens

Seeds, soil and social connections: growing community in community gardens

Growing Roots: The role of collective community gardening in cultural food insecurity and social integration of African Immigrants in Edmonton, AB

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