University food gardens: a unifying place for higher education sustainability

Leslie A. Duram and Sydney K. Klein

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2015, vol. 9, issue 3/4, 282-302

Abstract: This research describes the key characteristics of campus food gardens and investigates their contribution to overall campus sustainability. An email-survey of 52 campus garden managers in North America provided quantitative and qualitative data for this analysis. It was found that gardens are often student initiated and managed, but also bring together diverse stakeholders from the campus and community. These sites increase sustainability awareness as well as overall institutional sustainability. University food gardens provide formal education that overcomes many institutional barriers to interdisciplinary programs. Informal education also occurs at these sites through experiential learning which leads to greater environmental awareness among garden participants. Campus gardens increase sustainability of institutions by providing local organic food, sustainability education, campus biodiversity, and community-building. Overall, this research indicates that campus food gardens take root for the long-term with strong student participation and institutional support.

Keywords: campus gardens; experiential education; community gardens; higher education; innovation; campus sustainability; sustainable development; university food gardens; North America; sustainability awareness; institutional sustainability; interdisciplinary education; informal education; experiential learning; local food; organic food; sustainability education; campus biodiversity; community building. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijisde:v:9:y:2015:i:3/4:p:282-302

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