Urban agriculture \u2014 in particular, community gardening \u2014 has become increasingly popular in the 21st century, with the number of Americans growing food in community gardens rising by 200% between 2008 and 2016. And with good reason: The gardens provide a wide range of benefits, according to Sara Brune, a research associate in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a result of agricultural industrialization, certain foods have become cheap and accessible for the majority of Americans. But it\u2019s also had negative economic, social and environmental impacts,\u201d Brune said. \u201cLocally grown food promotes healthier eating, supports the economy and helps protect the environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community gardens often implement sustainable practices aimed at preserving natural resources, according to Brune. At the Well Fed Community Garden, for example, manager Tammy Purdue (Accounting ’82) uses crop rotation and companion planting for pest control, avoiding the use of pesticides that could pollute nearby waterways and cause greenhouse gas emissions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/a>Brune said community gardens can also alleviate urban food deserts \u2014 geographic areas where residents aren\u2019t able to access healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables, because they must travel an inconvenient distance, usually greater than 1 mile, to reach a supermarket or grocery store.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research shows that food deserts commonly occur in lower-income and minority communities, forcing residents to rely on unhealthy options such as processed foods from convenience stores, gas stations and fast-food restaurants. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s most recent food access report<\/a>, about 39.5 million Americans, or 12.8% of the nation\u2019s population, live in food deserts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are more than 7 billion people to feed in the world and you can\u2019t do it with community gardens alone,\u201d Brune said. \u201cBut we need these gardens to balance food consumption, because they facilitate the access to low-cost, fresh produce for those who simply can\u2019t get to it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n While southwest Raleigh isn\u2019t a food desert, there is only one grocery store, a Food Lion along Avent Ferry Road, located within a 1-mile radius of the Well Fed Community Garden, making it an important food source for the surrounding neighborhood. \u201cI can easily feed the entire block from this property,\u201d Purdue said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Well Fed Community Garden recently received permission from the City of Raleigh to establish an on-site farm stand, allowing Purdue to sell her produce to neighbors and others. Once the pandemic subsides, the garden will also continue to host events aimed at promoting urban agriculture. That includes gardening workshops, tours and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Brune, whose research focuses on the contribution of agritourism to local food systems, said that agritourism experiences increase people\u2019s appreciation for local foods and local farmers. \u201cAgritourism has long been perceived as an income diversification strategy for family farms. But our research shows that it\u2019s far more important,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re finding that people are more willing to buy and advocate for local food after engaging in agritourism experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She added that the hands-on agricultural activities offered by community gardens such as the Well Fed Community Garden may play a similar role in shaping peoples\u2019 preferences for local food in the urban context. \u201cThis indicates that apart from expanding the access to fresh food, community gardens may also strengthen local food systems by increasing the participant\u2019s appreciation for local food and their likelihood to advocate for local food.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n For centuries, farming has been a largely rural activity. But as rapid urbanization reduces access to food sources, city dwellers nationwide are growing plants and raising animals in and around their homes. This movement, known as urban farming or urban agriculture, is providing a wide range of health, environmental and economic benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In North Carolina, a number of urban agriculture initiatives have sprung up in recent years. That includes the Well Fed Community Garden<\/a>. Once an abandoned property in southwest Raleigh, the garden is now providing residents with local, organic produce \u2014 and some important lessons about how they\u2019re food grows and why it matters, with the goal of reconnecting them to the environment and its many benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Urban agriculture \u2014 in particular, community gardening \u2014 has become increasingly popular in the 21st century, with the number of Americans growing food in community gardens rising by 200% between 2008 and 2016. And with good reason: The gardens provide a wide range of benefits, according to Sara Brune, a research associate in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs a result of agricultural industrialization, certain foods have become cheap and accessible for the majority of Americans. But it\u2019s also had negative economic, social and environmental impacts,\u201d Brune said. \u201cLocally grown food promotes healthier eating, supports the economy and helps protect the environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Community gardens often implement sustainable practices aimed at preserving natural resources, according to Brune. At the Well Fed Community Garden, for example, manager Tammy Purdue (Accounting '82) uses crop rotation and companion planting for pest control, avoiding the use of pesticides that could pollute nearby waterways and cause greenhouse gas emissions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Brune said community gardens can also alleviate urban food deserts \u2014 geographic areas where residents aren\u2019t able to access healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables, because they must travel an inconvenient distance, usually greater than 1 mile, to reach a supermarket or grocery store.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a>