Community gardens cultivate social capital and community resilienceThis article is based on an awareness of current “escalating crises and fragmentation including widespread social isolation, polarization and distrust, ecological and public health crises, and the erosion of civic infrastructure.” Given these numerous challenges, community gardens may serve as vital local resources that can foster psychological well-being, social connection, and civic engagement. To clarify how community gardens might support “the cultivation of social capital,” this research summary examined the social benefits of community gardens as documented by the existing literature.
The authors synthesized findings from 50 published empirical studies conducted over the past decade with both children and adults. The authors also drew on their own community-based experiences in the US. Some of the studies included in the research summary focused on immigrant, refugee, and Indigenous populations. A social capital theory framework was utilized to explore the social benefits of community gardens. Previous research has identified three forms of social capital that strengthen community resilience by supporting cooperative behaviors, fostering trust, and facilitating the mobilization of resources. The three forms of social capital include: (1) bonding social capital (strong ties within a group), (2) bridging social capital (connections between diverse groups), and (3) linking social capital (relationships between institutions).
Findings are centered on three main areas of social benefit—psychological well-being, social connectedness, and civic engagement—which consistently emerged across diverse populations and contexts. Community gardens are widely reported to improve psychological well-being. This body of research suggests that community gardens are sites of social and ecological refuge that enable stress relief and psychological restoration. Well-being is also enhanced through gardening experiences because they can foster a sense of agency, belonging, purpose, and increased self-esteem. Findings related to improved social connectedness indicate that “shared gardening experiences consistently enhance interpersonal relationships, reduce isolation, and foster inclusive, cooperative communities.” By cultivating bonding social capital, community gardens nurture trust. Community gardens support intergenerational learning and the sharing of cultural and ecological knowledge, which can bolster community resilience. Participation in community gardens has been shown to decrease social isolation by fostering peer networks and mutual support, particularly among urban residents, older adults, and marginalized groups, including immigrants and refugees. Community gardens encourage civic engagement by involving people in local food initiatives, promoting sustainability, and supporting environmental justice. In this way, community gardens can increase awareness of systemic injustices and serve as sites of grassroots action and democratic participation. Community gardens also support the development of environmental identity and pro-environmental behaviors. Further, in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, “community gardens demonstrated their capacity as resilient civic infrastructures―providing food, sustaining mutual aid, and reinforcing local support networks.”
Findings highlighted by the summary reveal how “community gardens cultivate social capital by producing the bonding, bridging, and linking relationships that foster individual and collective well-being.” Through these forms of social capital development, community gardens strengthen community resilience and enable collective action. The authors conclude that “community gardens are a form of social infrastructure that grow trust, connection, and capacity―essential ingredients for healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities.”
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