Assessment of Success Variables for Community Gardens in Rural Areas: Arctic and non-Arctic Regions

Aim/Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the trends shaping the community gardens in Arctic and non-Arctic areas to better understand the similarities and differences in the uses of community gardens. In addition, national culture was examined to better understand if culture impacts establishing or maintaining community gardens. Background: Community gardens are growing in popularity, and discussions about sustaining ways in which food and natural resources can be grown in remote and harsh areas is a topic of concern and discussion worldwide. Methodology: The characteristics of the community and allotment gardens (used as synonyms) are summarized for three Arctic and non-Arctic countries, including what types of plants are allowed to be grown and why, who is involved in the gardens, and land ownership. In addition, the motivations, benefits and challenges of community gardening were assessed through a social science methodology of benchmarking interviews and observations. Findings: Based on the exploratory study of community garden practices in six countries, both Arctic and non-Arctic rural areas, regarding the aims of community gardens, organizational structure, and key successes and weaknesses based on expectations set by national culture as described by Hofstede (1983; 2011; 2017), it can be seen that national cultural expectations can give insight into basic organizational and communication preferences within the garden community and the larger society it operates in. This study highlights the importance of cultural insights, government policy, and societal benefits in the management of community gardens and supports the notion that urban agriculture and planning should be regionally specific, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Despite policy remaining a regionally specific requirement, a common thread this study found between all responses for all nations compared was the word “people” which represented the top word or the second most utilized word for all responses from all nations. Impact on Society: Understanding of the key variables for successfully establishing and maintaining community gardens in remote areas such as the Arctic or remote areas in the non-Arctic will aid in food security measures and community sustainability as the benefits of community gardens stretch beyond growing food and into social, health, and wellness spheres.