Neighbourhood characteristics and urban gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area: staffing and voluntarism, food production, infrastructure, and sustainability practices

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of Metropolitan Toledo showing location of gardens and the racial composition of the blocks around the gardens.

Table 1. Description of Metropolitan Toledo gardens.

Factors	Total sample		Minority percentage				Percentage below poverty line
			Less than 50% minority in half-mile radius		50% of more minority in half-mile radius		Less than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius		More than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius
	n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent
Total sample	30	100.0	17	56.7	13	43.3	13	43.3	17	56.7
City or suburb
Toledo	26	86.7	14	53.8	12	46.2	10	38.5	16	61.5
Suburb	4	13.3	3	75.0	1	25.0	3	75.0	1	25.0
Type of garden
Faith-based	12	40.0	7	58.3	5	41.7	6	50.0	6	50.0
Non-faith-based combined	18	60.0	10	55.6	8	44.4	7	38.9	11	61.1
Neighbourhood	9	30.0	5	55.6	4	44.4	3	33.3	6	66.7
School	5	16.7	2	40.0	3	60.0	2	40.0	3	60.0
Senior centre	4	13.3	3	75.0	1	25.0	2	50.0	2	50.0
Size of Garden
Less than quarter acre	23	79.3	13	56.5	10	43.5	11	47.8	12	52.2
Greater than quarter acre	6	20.7	3	50.0	3	50.0	1	16.7	5	83.3
Gardens and institutional collaboration
Has one institutional partner	15	50.0	7	46.7	8	53.3	6	40.0	9	60.0
Has two institutional partners	8	26.7	4	50.0	4	50.0	4	50.0	4	50.0
Has three or more institutional partners	7	23.3	6	85.7	1	14.3	3	42.9	4	57.1

Table 2. Operational funds for Metropolitan Toledo gardens.

Factors	n	Mean (x̅)
Total sample	22	$ 231.36
Racial composition of neighbourhood
Less than 50% of residents are minorities	14	$ 170.71
50% or more of residents are minorities	8	$ 337.50
Poverty level of neighbourhood
Less than 20% of residents live below the poverty level	11	$ 135.45
More than 20% of residents live below the poverty level	11	$ 327.27
City or suburb
Toledo	20	$ 244.50
Suburb	2	$ 100.00
Type of garden
Faith-based	8	$ 131.25
Non-faith-based combined	14	$ 288.57
Neighbourhood	7	$ 262.86
School	4	$ 350.00
Senior centre	3	$ 266.67
Size of garden
Less than quarter acre	17	$ 222.94
Greater than quarter acre	4	$ 300.00
Gardens and institutional collaboration
Has one institutional partner	8	$236.25
Has two institutional partners	7	$128.57
Has three or more institutional partners	7	$328.57

Table 3. Racial composition and poverty levels in garden neighbourhoods.

Factors	Number of garden neighbourhoods	Mean (x̅ ) percentage	Standard deviation	F value	Significance (p)
Racial composition of neighbourhood
Total sample	30	44.4	26.892	96.730	0.000
Less than 50% or residents are minorities	17	24.0	13.013
50% or more of residents are minorities	13	71.0	12.905
Poverty level of neighbourhood
Total sample	30	27.5	16.633	56.119	0.000
Less than 20% of residents are below poverty level	13	12.2	4.315
More than 20% of residents are below poverty level	17	39.2	12.367

Table 4. Garden participants.

Factors	Total sample		Minority percentage				Percentage below poverty line
			Less than 50% minority in half-mile radius		50% of more minority in half-mile radius		Less than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius		More than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius
	n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent
Staff
Race
Mean per cent White staff	18	50.9	10	64.0	8	34.6	8	71.3	10	34.7
Mean per cent Black staff	18	15.0	10	5.0	8	27.5	8	1.3	10	26.0
Mean per cent Hispanic staff	18	5.6	10	10.0	8	0.1	8	1.3	10	9.1
Mean per cent Asian staff	18	0.1	10	0.0	8	0.1	8	0.0	10	0.1
Mean per cent Native American staff	18	0.6	10	1.0	8	0.0	8	1.3	10	0.0
Gender
Mean per cent female staff	18	40.0	10	32.5	8	49.4	8	27.6	10	50.0
Mean per cent male staff	18	32.2	10	47.5	8	13.1	8	47.5	10	20.0
Volunteers
Race
Mean per cent White volunteers	20	56.7	12	64.1	8	45.6	10	62.2	10	51.2
Mean per cent Black volunteers	20	25.9	12	9.8	8	50.0	10	7.4	10	44.3
Mean per cent Hispanic volunteers	20	2.8	12	2.1	8	3.8	10	1.5	10	4.0
Mean per cent Asian volunteers	20	0.5	12	0.8	8	0.0	10	0.9	10	0.0
Mean per cent Native American volunteers	20	0.3	12	0.0	8	0.6	10	0.0	10	0.5
Gender
Mean per cent female volunteers	20	55.4	12	56.1	8	54.4	10	55.8	10	55.0
Mean per cent male volunteers	20	32.6	12	27.3	8	40.6	10	24.2	10	41.0
Type of volunteers (multiple responses)
Community members	12	40.0	7	58.3	5	41.7	6	50.0	6	50.0
Church members	10	33.3	8	80.0	2	20.0	7	70.0	3	30.0
Students	8	26.7	4	50.0	4	50.0	3	37.5	5	62.5
Friends and family	4	13.3	3	75.0	1	25.0	2	50.0	2	50.0
Local organisations	4	13.3	3	75.0	1	25.0	2	50.0	2	50.0
Teachers	1	3.3			1	100.0			1	100.0
Garden participants’ responsibilities (multiple responses)
General garden maintenance	16	53.3	8	50.0	8	50.0	5	31.3	11	68.8
Responsible for one’s own plot	8	26.7	7	87.5	1	12.5	6	75.0	2	25.0
Harvest and/or weigh produce	6	20	5	83.3	1	16.7	4	66.7	2	33.3
Volunteering a set number of hours	4	13.3	1	25.0	3	75.0	1	25.0	3	75.0
Supervising volunteers	3	10.0	2	66.7	1	33.3	2	66.7	1	33.3
Work the garden collectively	2	6.7			2	100.0			2	100.0
Miscellaneous tasks	2	6.7	2	100.0			1	50.0	1	50.0
Work at farmer’s market stand	1	3.3	1	100.0			1	100.0
Participation fees/donations (multiple responses)
No fees required	17	56.7	10	58.8	7	41.2	8	47.1	9	52.9
Volunteering is expected	11	36.7	6	54.5	5	45.5	4	36.4	7	63.6
Donating produce is expected	4	13.3	4	100.0			4	100.0
Annual dues	2	6.7	1	50.0	1	50.0	1	50.0	1	50.0
Fee based on number of beds used	1	3.3			1	100.0			1	100.0
Other	1	3.3			1	100.0			1	100.0

Table 5. Deciding on what to grow in the gardens.

Factors	Total sample			Minority percentage						Percentage below poverty line
				Less than 50% minority in half-mile radius			50% of more minority in half-mile radius			Less than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius			More than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius
	n	Score	Mean	n	Score	Mean	n	Score	Mean	n	Score	Mean	n	Score	Mean
Cultural desirability of crop	20	121	6.05	12	71	5.92	8	50	6.25	9	55	6.11	11	66	6.00
Seek community input	20	119	5.95	12	65	5.42	8	54	6.75	9	48	5.33	11	71	6.45
Availability of seeds	20	106	5.30	12	69	5.75	8	37	4.63	9	53	5.89	11	53	4.82
Ease of growing	20	104	5.20	12	63	5.25	8	41	5.13	9	48	5.33	11	56	5.09
Caloric value of crop	20	103	5.15	12	63	5.25	8	40	5.00	9	48	5.33	11	55	5.00
Nutritional quality of crop	20	94	4.70	12	59	4.92	8	35	4.38	9	38	4.22	11	56	5.09
Customer demand	20	93	4.65	12	59	4.92	8	34	4.25	9	50	5.56	11	43	3.91
Cost of seeds	20	86	4.30	12	50	4.17	8	36	4.50	9	32	3.56	11	54	4.91
Space availability	20	80	4.00	12	41	3.42	8	39	4.88	9	33	3.67	11	47	4.27

Table 6. Fruits, vegetables, greens, and spices grown in gardens.

Crops grown in gardens	Number of gardens	Per cent of gardens	Crops grown in gardens	Number of gardens	Per cent of gardens
Tomato	28	96.6	Cayenne pepper	5	17.2
Summer squash	23	79.3	Brussel sprouts	5	17.2
Cucumber	23	79.3	Celery	5	17.2
Sweet pepper	23	79.3	Cauliflower	4	13.8
Cabbage	20	69.0	Blackberry	4	13.8
Lettuce	20	69.0	Blueberry	4	13.8
Jalapeno pepper	19	65.5	Arugula	4	13.8
Eggplant	19	65.5	Parsnip	3	10.3
Bean	18	62.1	Rhubarb	3	10.3
Onion	17	58.6	Parsley	3	10.3
Broccoli	16	55.2	Amaranth	3	10.3
Radish	15	51.7	Bok choy	3	10.3
Carrot	15	51.7	Lamb’s quarters	3	10.3
Kale	15	51.7	Honeydew	2	6.9
Peas	14	48.3	Artichoke	2	6.9
Spinach	14	48.3	Hardy kiwi	2	6.9
Beet	13	44.8	Grape	2	6.9
Collard	13	44.8	Currant	2	6.9
Strawberry	12	41.4	Elderberry	2	6.9
Winter squash	11	37.9	Hazelnuts	2	6.9
Cantaloupe	11	37.9	Zuchini	2	6.9
Potato	11	37.9	Endive	2	6.9
Watermelon	10	34.5	Mesclun	2	6.9
Chard	9	31.0	Mustard	2	6.9
Garlic	8	27.6	Horehound	1	3.4
Turnip	7	24.1	Sage	1	3.4
Asparagus	7	24.1	Chamomile	1	3.4
Raspberry	7	24.1	Spearmint	1	3.4
Pumpkin	6	20.7	Pak choi	1	3.4
Scallion	6	20.7	Basil	1	3.4
Corn	6	20.7	Oregano	1	3.4
Nappa	6	20.7	Thyme	1	3.4
Habanero pepper	5	17.2	Turnip	1	3.4

Table 7. Differences in the percentage of gardens growing fruits, vegetables, greens, and spices.

Crops grown in gardens	Total		Minority percentage		Percentage below poverty line
	Number of gardens	Per cent of gardens	Less than 50% minority in half-mile radius	50% of more minority in half-mile radius	Less than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius	More than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius
Tomato	28	96.6	100.0	91.7	100.0	93.8
Summer squash	23	79.3	94.1	58.3	92.3	68.8
Cucumber	23	79.3	82.4	75.0	92.3	68.8
Sweet pepper	23	79.3	76.5	83.3	76.9	81.3
Cabbage	20	69.0	76.5	58.3	84.6	56.3
Lettuce	20	69.0	70.6	66.7	69.2	68.8
Jalapeno pepper	19	65.5	64.7	66.7	61.5	68.8
Eggplant	19	65.5	76.5	50.0	84.6	50.0
Bean	18	62.1	76.5	41.7	84.6	43.8
Onion	17	58.6	70.6	41.7	76.9	43.8
Broccoli	16	55.2	52.9	58.3	69.2	43.8
Radish	15	51.7	64.7	33.3	69.2	37.5
Carrot	15	51.7	58.8	41.7	69.2	37.5
Kale	15	51.7	41.2	66.7	46.2	56.3
Peas	14	48.3	47.1	50.0	53.8	43.8
Spinach	14	48.3	52.9	41.7	53.8	43.8
Beet	13	44.8	47.1	41.7	53.8	37.5
Collard	13	44.8	29.4	66.7	23.1	62.5
Strawberry	12	41.4	41.2	41.7	46.2	37.5

Table 8. Uses for the food grown in the gardens.

Uses to which food is put	Number of gardens	Per cent of gardens
Food is used by growers	19	65.5
Donated food to neighbourhood residents	19	65.5
Donated produce to food banks, pantries, shelters, soup kitchens	14	48.3
Shared with family and friends	11	37.9
Sold	3	10.3
Donated food to schools	3	10.3
It is stolen	1	3.4
Donated food to cancer families	1	3.4
Food used in nutrition education classes	1	3.4
Donated food to church ministry	1	3.4
Donated food to seniors	1	3.4
Other	1	3.4

Table 9. Garden infrastructure and sustainability practices.

Factors	Total sample		Minority percentage				Percentage below poverty line
	Number of gardens	Per cent of gardens	Less than 50% minority in half-mile radius		50% of more minority in half-mile radius		Less than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius		More than 20% live below the poverty level in half-mile radius
			n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent	n	Per cent
Garden infrastructure
Raised beds	14	46.7	9	64.3	5	35.7	6	42.9	8	57.1
Seating area	9	30.0	6	66.7	3	33.3	5	55.6	4	44.4
Toolshed	8	26.7	7	87.5	1	12.5	5	62.5	3	37.5
Pathways	8	26.7	5	62.5	3	37.5	5	62.5	3	37.5
Tables	7	23.3	6	85.7	1	14.3	4	57.1	3	42.9
Sculptures	5	16.7	4	80.0	1	20.0	4	80.0	1	20.0
Playground	4	13.3	3	75.0	1	25.0	2	50.0	2	50.0
Grill	4	13.3	3	75.0	1	25.0	1	25.0	3	75.0
Mural	2	6.7	1	50.0	1	50.0			2	100.0
Greenhouse/hoop house	2	6.7	2	100.0			1	50.0	1	50.0
Chicken coop	1	3.3	1	100.0					1	100.0
Educational signs	1	3.3	1	100.0					1	100.0
Sustainability practices
Crop rotation	12	40.0	8	66.7	4	33.3	5	41.7	7	58.3
Composting	11	36.7	8	72.7	3	27.3	5	45.5	6	54.5
Rain barrels	9	30.0	6	66.7	3	33.3	5	55.6	4	44.4
Seed saving	4	13.3	3	75.0	1	25.0	2	50.0	2	50.0
Cooking demonstrations	4	13.3	1	25.0	3	75.0	1	25.0	3	75.0
Bee hives	3	10.0	2	66.7	1	33.3			3	100.0
Season extension	3	10.0	2	66.7	1	33.3			3	100.0