Vertical Gardening: Growing the Community from Seeds to Sustainability
Who We Are
Project Sponsor: Ronell Trout, Green Light Project
Research Team: Ronnie Amoah, Brigitte Belanger, Gavin Fleck, Kathryn Gorden, Andrew Nobrega
Advisors: Dr. Michele Femc-Bagwell and Dr. Patricia Agupusi
Important Links
Community & Vertical Gardens Video
Abstract
The Maitland Garden Village in South Africa was once filled with vast, beautiful gardens. Economic and environmental hardships have deterred community members from reintroducing gardening. The research team’s goal was to revitalize the existing community garden by assessing community members’ needs and environmental factors, building nutritional and aesthetic vertical gardens, and providing sustainability strategies for maintaining them. Research conducted using semi-structured interviews and focus groups revealed that gardens that address water scarcity, financial burden, and physical demand could increase the community’s involvement in gardening. By designing and building gardens focused on accessibility and sustainability, a sense of community can be reignited in the Maitland Garden Village.
The research team with sponsor Ronell Trout.