Promoting Community Gardening Among Small-scale Ethnic Minority Producers: A Case of Maryland

Food insecurity disproportionately affects minority populations, and addressing it has become a daunting challenge amidst a rapidly growing population and changing climate. Community gardening has emerged as an effective tool to combat food insecurity and ensure a sustainable agrifood system. However, the participation of ethnic minority populations in community gardening is low due to several factors, including lack of knowledge, skills, awareness, technical support, and motivation. This study evaluated the impact of an Extension project on the knowledge, skills, perception, and practices of 36 small-scale ethnic minority producers involved in community gardening in Maryland. The results showed improvements in gardening knowledge and skills and increased awareness of the benefits of community gardening. Most participants expressed willingness to continue gardening, participate in community-building activities, and share their knowledge among friends and relatives, indicating an increased awareness of the need to adopt the need for the adoption of sustainable food production strategies. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring extension programs to meet the participant’s specific needs, enhance knowledge, and promote the broader adoption of community gardening.