Measuring the Impacts of Community Innovations: the Little Free Farmstand in Geneva, New York

Abstract

Various community innovations can positively impact food insecurity and hunger, while also addressing food waste issues. This article focuses on a community innovation known as the Little Free Farmstand (LFF) of Geneva, New York. Little free approaches have appeared across the world to improve access to resources as well as promoting kindness in many communities. This case article undertakes an investigation of the impacts of two LFF's regarding food security and food waste in the City of Geneva. An applied mixed method approach using photojournalism, formal and informal data solicitation from community members, note-taking, and team reflection were undertaken to analyze the impacts of the LFFs. Despite limitations with the study methods discussed in this article, the LFFs demonstrated positive impacts indirectly and directly regarding decreasing food waste and improving access to free, healthy food. While the results of the two LFFs' impacts in the city are interesting, this study showcases accessible methods that other communities can use to measure the impacts of their own community innovations regarding food security and food waste. This study concludes by sharing the various challenges of the LFF project, especially regarding measuring community innovations' impacts. These challenges are separated into economic, social and environmental categories.

Rapid Community Innovation: a Small Urban Liberal Arts Community Response to COVID-19

“…Geneva consists of around sixteen thousand residents between its city and township. Economic inequality and food insecurity are acknowledged as prevailing issues for area residents (Talmage et al 2020b). Geneva demonstrates proportionally greater numbers of children living below the poverty line and households needing food assistance/ SNAP benefits compared to national U.S. figures (Talmage et al 2020b).…”

“…Economic inequality and food insecurity are acknowledged as prevailing issues for area residents (Talmage et al 2020b). Geneva demonstrates proportionally greater numbers of children living below the poverty line and households needing food assistance/ SNAP benefits compared to national U.S. figures (Talmage et al 2020b). Many local residents are also politically active, holding local protests and rallies even during the pandemic (e.g., post-George Floyd death by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota) (Buchiere 2017; Cutillo 2020).…”