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The Role of Race on the Social Impacts
of Community Gardening in St. Louis
Drs. Glover and Shinew conducted telephone interviews with
community gardeners in St. Louis to examine race and its relationship
to perceptions and benefits of community gardening. More specifically
the study assessed: (1) the extend to which community gardeners identify
with their community garden; (2) gardeners' psychological sense of community;
(3) gardens' motivations for involvement; (4) the socialization associated
with community gardening; and (5) the level of interracial interaction
that occurred in the community gardens. The study was conducted in partnership
with Gateway Greening, a not-for-profit organization that promotes urban
gardening in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods in St. Louis.
Telephone interviews were completed with 195 community gardeners.
Results indicated that African-Americans were significantly more interested
in what others thought of their community garden, and agreed more strongly
with the statement, "I am like the people who use my community garden."
Results also indicated that there was not a significant difference between
African and European Americans' sense of community. A series of questions
were asked regarding their sense of belonging to their neighborhood, St.Louis,
their community garden, and their racial group. The only category where
the two groups statistically difference was in connection to their racial
group; African Americans were more likely to indicate a connection. When
to respond to questions regarding their motivations for getting involved
in community gardening, both groups responded favorably to the following
motivations: improve my neighborhood, enjoy nature, and relax. They were
also asked about the level of interracial interaction that occurred in
the gardens, and booth groups were supportive of the statement, "Community
gardening brings together people who belong to different racial groups."
Additional research is clearly needed to further explore
the relationship between race and the benefits derived from community
gardening. The study's findings indicated some support for interracial
bridging, and further, the results indicate that both groups feel very
positively about their involvement in community gardening, and there does
not appear to be a great difference in the potential benefits received
by the participants. Bridging racial divides has historically been a difficult
process and thus, any endeavor that encourages positive interracial interactions
is generally viewed as a favorable initiative. Understanding and facilitating
positive interracial contact is extremely important if we hope to improve
racial tensions in society.
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