Understanding Transience and Participation in University Student-Led Food Gardens

Rebecca Laycock Pedersen, Zoe P. Robinson and Emma Surman
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Rebecca Laycock Pedersen: Department of Strategic Sustainable Development, Blekinge Institute of Technology, 371 41 Karlskrona, Sweden
Zoe P. Robinson: School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Keele University, Keele ST5 5BG, UK
Emma Surman: Keele Management School, Keele University, Keele ST5 5BG, UK

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-26

Abstract: In an increasingly mobile world, transience is becoming the norm. Sustainable community food initiatives, therefore, must organise to withstand high turnover of volunteers. Using a case study of the United Kingdom’s National Union of Students’ food growing scheme in universities, this paper aims to map the causes and effects of short-term, irregular, and low participation using a causal loop diagram to understand how to mitigate their negative impacts and improve participation. Data was gathered through interviews, workshops, photovoice, a fishbowl discussion, and a reflective diary. We found three amplifying feedback loops increasing short-term, irregular and low participation, their causes, and their impacts. These feedback loops were precariously buffered by a continuous in-flow of new potential participants each academic year. We also found that the stakeholders of these gardens conceptualised time akin to both temporary and permanent organisations, and these differing conceptualisations were a source of tension. Furthermore, although ‘organisational amnesia’ was a problem, the gardens were still learningful spaces. We recommend both upstream and downstream solutions are implemented to buffer the impacts of transience and suggest that university and students’ union staff could play a crucial and subtle supporting role.

Keywords: turnover; education for sustainability; higher education; students’ union; community garden; volunteering; causal loop diagram; temporary organisation; organisational amnesia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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