Campus gardens: Food production or sense of place?

Abstract

Campus gardens can provide opportunities for experiential learning and enhanced physical and mental health; however, they require substantial commitments of time, money, and effort. This formative evaluation explores the perspectives of a university population on the establishment of a campus garden prior to its implementation. Phase One involved an electronic survey of the entire population at a small university (n=1293). Phase Two consisted of eleven in-depth interviews with survey respondents who were interested in furthering the dialogue. The majority (85%) of the 415 individuals who responded to the survey and all interviewees supported the idea of a campus garden. Compared to a shared/community garden or rental plot, participants preferred a low-maintenance forest garden. Food production was secondary to protection of the natural environment and providing a space for rest and reflection. Participants' sense of community, combined with knowledge of the university's history, mission, and values, reflected a strong sense of place, a key component of social sustainability. This research supports the consideration of alternative options to traditional community gardens on university campuses. It suggests that forest gardens, with their low-maintenance approach to food production, and their potential to promote social sustainability through an enhanced sense of place, may be a good place to start.

Growing an edible campus

“…As such, many suspended or reduced funding to campus gardens. Consequently, the prominence of Edible Campuses suffered as, at the time, few were self-sustaining (Ridgeway & Matthews, 2015citing Bell, 2013.…”

“…Scholars and food activists alike doubt that the development of alternative food systems such as Edible Campuses are capable of adequately addressing the systemic issues arising from the industrial food system (Dupuis, Goodman & Harrison, 2006). Similarly, critics doubt the political impact and transformational capacity of campus projects (Ridgeway & Matthews, 2015;Wright & Middendorf, 2008).…”