Growing Vegetables and Values: Benefits of Neighborhood-Based Community Gardens for Youth Development and Nutrition

ABSTRACT

Community gardens are one way that residents have mobilized to beautify urban neighborhoods, improve access to fresh produce, and engage youth. Qualitative case studies were conducted of two neighborhood-based community gardens with youth programs. Data collection included participant observation and in-depth interviews with adult gardeners and neighbors, youth, and community police officers. Results suggest that the garden programs provided opportunities for constructive activities, contributions to the community, relationship and interpersonal skill development, informal social control, exploring cognitive and behavioral competence, and improved nutrition. Community gardens promoted developmental assets for involved youth while improving their access to and consumption of healthy foods.

KEYWORDS:

• Community gardens
• urban agriculture
• youth developmental assets
• nutrition
• qualitative research

This research was funded by the WK Kellogg Foundation Community Health Scholars Program, the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Women and Gender, the Neighborhood Violence Prevention Collaborative, and a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (No. R49/CCR518605). The authors express their deep appreciation to the other members of the Community Garden Storytelling Committee and supporters—Ashley Atkinson, Ella Aubrey, Lee Bell, Edna Chaney, Constance Cobley, Doris Elam, Craig Farrington, Jennifer Farrington, Pat Legg, Pete Hutchison, Susan Morrel-Samuels, Lillie Neal, Julie Parsons, Elizabeth Perry, Janelle Powell, Erma Pugh, Thomas Reischl, Jane Richardson, Stephanie Shumsky, Mary Alyce Stickney, Fannie Odom, Ken Van Wagoner, Andrew Younger, and Marc Zimmerman—and the Flint youth and adult community gardeners, who made this study possible. This article is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Catherine Catchings.