Community Land and Food Gatherings

Partnering for Resilient Urban Food Systems

Urban agriculture (UA) has rapidly expanded in the Twin Cities in recent decades, including farms and community or home gardens with diverse goals and growing practices. As the climate crisis deepens and urban populations grow, UA is a vital adaptation strategy to build distributed and resilient food systems that are regenerative for people and the environment.

Community-engaged participatory research projects have generated rich data sets to quantify the impacts of UA on metrics of ecosystem service provision, and this project conducted participatory translation and application activities to integrate these research findings with urban management practices.

The project team leveraged practitioner and research knowledge to co-create data analysis and application strategies in land management practices, facilitate peer-to-peer learning between growers to strengthen support and accountability networks and explore drivers of land-use governance decisions for UA with policymakers to design innovative ownership, taxation and incentive policies.

Outcomes

• Created two peer-reviewed Frontiers publications in 2020 and 2023, gave eight conference presentations, held four academic seminars and hosted one community seminar
• Held seven community land and food workshops/tours – involving over 80 community participants – which brought farmers, community members, public employees and researchers together to understand the geography, challenges and visions for the future of UA
• Conducted soil screening, testing and soil and compost drops at five community gardens over two years, gained participation and support for a mini-forest installation tour and brainstorming session, and held an outreach session with Dakota County master gardeners
• Deepened existing community-University relationships and expanded community and University networks
• Aided in the conception, development and acquisition of a ~$250,000 federal community-engaged research grant that enabled the continuation of community partnerships and co-production of knowledge