Community garden coproduction under collectivism

Coproduction, as both a policy instrument and a planning practice, involves citizens in producing public services, positioning them as consumers and producers. Small vacant lands in cities offer opportunities to improve the urban environment. This study examines emerging coproduction that transforms neglected vacant lands into community gardens in under served neighborhoods in China, and focuses on how collectivism influences civic engagement. Culturally, collectivism is deeply rooted in Confucian values, which prioritize collective well-being over individual interests. Physically, these gardens are located in gated communities, fostering collectivism by providing shared spaces that resemble ‘club goods.’ This research employs mixed methods, including a survey, interviews, and field observations, to explore how key factors, including motivation, legitimacy, and challenges, play out in a collective context. The findings reveal that, during the coproduction process, residents prioritize neighborhood well-being over individual benefits of community gardens; civic initiators employ collectivism to legitimize garden land use, and residents frame community gardens as collective endeavors with broad societal benefits, addressing challenges and drawing on resources. This study offers valuable insights into the potential of collectivism to support the success of community garden coproduction, presenting a contrast to Western models of community garden development.