Community Gardens: Governance and Soil Quality in Madison, WI

Abstract

A growing interest in urban agriculture creates the need to investigate the effectiveness of community garden management, specifically how it influences the garden?s physical health. We employed plot holder questionnaires, garden director interviews, and soil sample analysis to gauge the relationship between governance and soil quality at two organic community gardens in Madison, Wisconsin. Despite distinctive differences in management techniques, lab tests for pH, organic matter, phosphorus, and potassium revealed healthy conditions for plant growth in both gardens. This research approach can be utilized on a larger scale to develop improved governance regimes for community gardens.