Exploring the Potential of Home Gardening to Increase Food Access and Enhance Community Development in Low-income Neighborhoods

A Honors Thesis Presentation will be held by Mara Momenee, Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability major. She will present Exploring the Potential of Home Gardening to Increase Food Access and Enhance Community Development in Low-income Neighborhoods in 245 Kottman Hall.

Over the years numerous studies have shown the many benefits of community gardens, including increased access to healthy food, strengthened relationships, and the provision of cultural gathering spaces. Limited research, however, has been done on contemporary home food gardening. My study aimed to help address this gap in the literature by exploring home gardening in one Columbus neighborhood.

In partnership with an urban farm in Linden, I helped create a summer home gardening course, open to all those interested in increasing or expanding their own home garden. Over a span of 10 weeks, the class offered participants material and informational support. The relationships built during those few months strengthened the Linden community and provided a greater understanding of the unique motivations, barriers, and potential benefits surrounding the overlooked activity of home gardening.

Jeremy Brooks, advisor