Community gardening: A citizens’ movement and an innovative experience for local community

Community Gardens are abandoned areas, cared by citizens of a local community. The phenomenon increased in the Seventies, mainly in the U.S.A and Australia, due to the environmental movement’s growth and a new awareness about ecological problems. During the last decade it increased also in Europe, becoming a relevant form of social aggregation. Aim. To explore, by a qualitative method, the growing phenomenon in an Italian town in order to describe it and compare the results with other international studies and experiences. Methods Participants: 33 people (21 females, 12 males; average age 36) who actively participate in the organization of 3 Community Gardens in Florence. Instruments: 20 semi-structured interviews and 3 focus groups to gather qualitative data. The main areas explored were: origin, structure and management of the garden; participation; participants’ expectations; perceived advantages both on individual and community level. Results. The phenomenon may have a role in promoting individual and collective well-being. Participation in the activities of the Community Garden seems to affect health (through healthy diet and food control), contact with nature and physical activity; psychological well-being; individual and collective self-efficacy; sense of community, developing membership and social bonds, and increase of social capital; responsibility towards environmental problems. Conclusions. We may assume that community gardening can have a relevant impact on local communities thanks to its influence on well-being and its role in the development of degraded areas, promoting their transformation through a participatory bottom-up process.