LB 41-339 - The role of urban gardens in food production and food security

Urban gardens are important socio-ecological systems in cities where urban citizens receive many benefits; however, food production remains a common goal and benefit of many gardens. In this paper we aim to better understand the role of food production amongst the other potential reason and motivations that gardeners may choose to engage in community gardens. We also explore how much food is grown within these gardens and examine how food production differs between segments of the urban gardening population. We surveyed 182 gardeners across 18 urban gardens in the Central Coast of California and ask gardeners to describe their motivations for gardening, their sociodemographic information, garden use and experience, food production estimates, and food security status. We found that food production represented about 46% of the six main reasons respondents state as a primary motivator for gardening, with aims to produce organic, healthy produce as well as culturally appropriate produce. Other reasons included the desire to garden as a hobby, being outdoors, relaxation, social interaction, and exercise (in descending order). About 37% of gardeners estimated that they produced one to five pounds of produce per week, with the second largest segment estimating six to ten pounds of produce (~28%). These estimates were corroborated by in field measurement and analysis of crop production (for tomato, squash and pepper plants) where it was estimated that many gardeners produced about one to five pounds of food per week. At the height of the harvest season, it is estimated that gardeners produced on average 4 pounds of these crops alone, with an estimated saving of $16USD when compared to the local cost of organic produce. When examining the potential of urban gardens to assist with food insecurity, we found that gardeners with larger families or with a lower income were more food insecure; however greater food production was associated with gardeners with higher incomes and who spent more time in the gardens. Thus, gardens are highly productive and able to provide fresh produce and offset costs for gardeners, but gardeners that may need the produce the most are not necessarily the largest producers.