Food choices and local food access among Perth's community gardeners

Abstract

The recent proliferation of community gardens in Perth, Western Australia, and elsewhere around the world, is just one aspect of increasing concern about food security, food production methods and alternative food networks (AFNs). The literature on community gardens has thus far concentrated largely on their community-building and social dimensions, with less of a focus on the contribution of community gardens to local AFNs and food security. This research investigated members of community gardens in Perth, examining how they engage with local AFNs, their attitudes towards food production, and the food choices they make. The constraints which people experience in making these choices are highlighted and some ways in which these constraints may be overcome are suggested.

Keywords:

• community gardens
• alternative food networks
• food security

Notes

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) SEIFA is a one measure of the social and the economic well-being of each region. It is calculated on the basis of Local Government boundaries, which is likely to hide some diversity within Local Government areas. The scores range around the average of 1000, with two thirds of the scores lying between 900 and 1100.