Building sustainable university-based community gardens: Volunteer perceptions of enablers and barriers to engagement and benefits received from volunteering in the Moving Feast

Courtney Anderson; Judith Maher; Hattie H Wright

doi:10.1080/23311886.2018.1488211

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Building sustainable university-based community gardens: Volunteer perceptions of enablers and barriers to engagement and benefits received from volunteering in the Moving Feast

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Building sustainable university-based community gardens: Volunteer perceptions of enablers and barriers to engagement and benefits received from volunteering in the Moving Feast

Courtney Anderson, Judith Maher and Hattie H Wright

Cogent Social Sciences, Vol.4, 1488221

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2018.1488211

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Abstract

community garden

volunteer

university

barriers

enablers

benefits

student

Community gardens are receiving increasing attention as a source of locally available and sustainable food, and aim to increase food security. Engagement and commitment from the volunteer workforce in community gardens is an important contributor to their success and sustainability. University-based community gardens are a distinct type of community garden. Little is known about barriers and enablers to volunteer engagement in this setting. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of volunteers of the Moving Feast, a newly established university community garden in Queensland (Australia), particularly the perceived benefits and the barriers and enablers influencing their engagement. Focus groups were conducted with 14 of the volunteers. Key enablers included interactive communication, personal motivations and garden-related activities embedded in university course curriculum. Common barriers to volunteering included competing priorities, the timing of sessions and activities, and a perceived lack of communication and information. Social and educational benefits emerged as the main benefits received, with an emphasis on future career benefits among student volunteers. The findings bring to light implications for volunteer recruitment, engagement and retention, particularly in university student cohorts, that may assist management and ensuring sustainability of university-based community gardens.

Details

Title: Building sustainable university-based community gardens: Volunteer perceptions of enablers and barriers to engagement and benefits received from volunteering in the Moving Feast
Authors: Courtney Anderson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Judith Maher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Hattie H Wright (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Cogent Social Sciences, Vol.4, 1488221; 19
Publisher: Cogent OA
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2018.1488211
ISSN: 2331-1886; 2331-1886
Copyright note: Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.
Organisation Unit: Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; Centre for Bioinnovation; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451347902621
Output Type: Journal article
Research Statement: false