Conference :: Rahm, J. & Vazquez, I. (2007). "I like harvesting and bringing something home!" Why inner-city youth enjoy gardening. 20th Annual Visitor Studies Association Conference. Columbus, OH: Visitor Studies Association.

last updated: 2008-05-09 14:51:30

Abstract

Research on gardening programs has underlined how such settings create opportunities for youth to discover fresh food and in turn make healthier food choices. Learning within these programs tends to be broad and dynamic integrating disciplines such as science, mathematics, language arts, history, social studies, and art. Gardening also leads to a deeper understanding of natural systems and the natural sciences making youth better stewards of their environment. Yet, relatively little is known about why inner-city youth value gardening. Why are they interested in participating and seeking out such contexts in the non-school hours? What do such settings come to mean to them over time?

These are questions we will discuss in our presentation of data from a qualitative case study of an eight- week summer gardening program called Jardins-jeunes managed by the Botanical Garden of Montreal, a program in existence for 69 years. Our study focuses on the afternoon program, which serves 60 youth ranging in age from 10-15 years of age. At the time of the study, 67% of the participating youth were also poor and ethnically diverse.

When looking at motives for participation, it becomes clear that many youth valued being outdoors, and they participated “to keep busy” during the summer. Since the program asked for a commitment of just two afternoons per week, it left space for socializing with peers as well as time for work. The program was also highly valued as a means to make new friends and to discuss urban youth issues such as dealing with family violence, teen pregnancy, drug use, and acceptance by peers. Gardening and especially the growth of biologically safe vegetables was also highly valued by the youth. For instance, Kamila, a first-generation immigrant from West Africa, as well as Edric, a fifteen year old Latino youth who had participated for five consecutive years, both highly valued contributing something to their family’s well-being by putting some food on the table.

Our study suggests that gardens are important sanctuaries for youth development and need to be made more widely accessible. They are also important in opening youths’ horizons to new career opportunities and offer youth new ways to relate to nature, something they will value for life.

Desmond, D., Grieshop, J., & Subramaniam, A. (2002). Revisiting garden based learning in basic education. Paper prepared for IIEP/FAO, SDRE Food and Agricultural Organization/United Nations, Rome, Italy & UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning, Paris, France.

Lawson, L. & McNally, M. (1995). Putting teens at the center. Maximizing public utility of urban space through youth involvement in planning and employment. Children's Environment, 12(2), 209-221.

Rahm, J.(2002). Emergent learning opportunities in an inner-city youth gardening program. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39(2), 164-184.

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