An Experience Inspired by the Evolution of Community Gardens in New York City

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2022.02.012

Abstract

Abstract:

In many highly dense urban environments, the urgent needs of residents for increasing green space, improving the quality of the community environment and reconstructing the relationships among residents have given birth to the new space type of community gardens. However, China still lacks this relevant experience. In contrast, New York City’s community gardens had a relatively early start, and they now have rich experience in space construction, operation and maintenance. Given their level of experience, they can be used as references for the development of community gardens in China. This paper adopts a bibliometric research method, identifies 201 periodical literature sources published between 2000 and 2020 from the core library of the Web of Science as the object of study, and finally assesses the research hotspot for transferring from macro-research to space-type construction method, social impact, and so on, through CiteSpace software analysis. By virtue of the research process analysis and the results of field surveys and interviews, this paper probes the development status of space construction and social organization construction of the community gardens in New York City, and summarizes that area’s effective experience of development. Based on the current development situation of China’s community gardens, it is proposed that the development of community gardens should be directed by ensuring the land for development, giving full play to social benefits, and mobilizing social organizations, so as to effectively realize urban space construction and social governance.

Key words: CiteSpace, community garden, public space, social benefits, urban agriculture

ZHENG Jie, LYU Yating. An Experience Inspired by the Evolution of Community Gardens in New York City[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2022, 13(2): 299-311.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig. 1 Interannual variation trend of papers on New York community garden research from the core library of Web of Science (2000-2020).

Fig. 2 Co-citation network cluster map of New York community garden research (2000-2020)

Fig. 3 Keyword timeline distribution map of New York community garden research (2000-2020)

Fig. 4 Timeline of policies pertaining to New York City’s community gardens

Fig. 5 Distribution of New York City’s community gardens Source: New York City “Green Thumb” Project (https://greenthumb. nycgovparks.org/gardensearch.php#garden-list)

Fig. 6 Layouts of Campos community garden and Vamos a Sembrar after reconstruction

Fig. 7 The net wire fence between the community farm and the road boundary

Fig. 8 Some of the facilities in community gardens: (a) rainwater collection facilities; (b) preliminary disposal of collected organic waste; (c) prepared fertilizer; (d) toolshed.

Fig. 9 A sacrificial table in the public exchange area of a community garden

Fig. 10 Volunteers were taking part in activities in the El Sol Brilladtejr.sr community garden

Fig. 11 Statistics on the survey of participation characteristics in community gardens

Fig. 12 Residents in a farmers’ market, agency staff, sellers and citizens who are tasting food.

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