Document Type
Professional Plan Capstone
Original Publication Date
2023
Client
Happily Natural Day
Location
Richmond, Virginia
Date of Submission
May 2023
Abstract
Urban agriculture provides a variety of economic, environmental, and social benefits. Recognizing these benefits, the City of Richmond administers a community garden program known as “Richmond Grows Gardens.” Through this program, underutilized city properties are permitted for use as community gardens. However, an emerging concern is the potential for community gardens to perpetuate underlying structures of social and racial inequality through displacement and social exclusion. Considering these concerns, this plan investigates the implementation of community gardens in Richmond and establishes a methodology for ranking existing and available community garden sites based on the social and racial demographics of their surrounding communities. Furthermore, interviews with garden stewards reveal how decisions are made on the design, infrastructure, and process of community garden sites in Richmond, Va.
Ultimately, this plan reinforces the idea that community gardens provide important opportunities to advance social equity and promote black self-determination. Community gardens are community assets that demonstrate collective power and, when implemented with intentionality, give communities the tools they need to define themselves. Accordingly, this plan establishes a credible vision for the future of community gardens in the city and provides pertinent recommendations and implementation strategies to ensure that community gardens advance social equity and black self-determination by anchoring community power.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects