Challenges to the Efficacy of Community Garden Programs

Abstract

Food Insecurity is one of the more wicked problems we face in the United States today. Prior research shows that populations dealing with food insecurity suffer from higher than average rates of chronic health conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure, due in part to reduced access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Community-based gardening and urban agriculture programs are valuable tools that can be used to improve food security and potentially offset these negative health outcomes, yet these programs often fail in underserved areas due to lack of community participation and financial support.