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An Interpretive Framework for Assessing and Monitoring the Sustainability of School Gardens

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Sottile

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (SAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 11-90128 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Daniela Fiorito

    (Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (SAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 11-90128 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Nadia Tecco

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Vincenzo Girgenti

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Cristiana Peano

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

School gardens are, increasingly, an integral part of projects aiming to promote nutritional education and environmental sustainability in many countries throughout the world. In the late 1950s, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) had already developed projects to improve the dietary intake and behavior through school and community gardens. However, notwithstanding decades of experience, real proof of how these programs contribute to improving sustainability has not been well-documented, and reported findings have mostly been anecdotal. Therefore, it is important to begin a process of collecting and monitoring data to quantify the results and possibly improve their efficiency. This study’s primary goal is to propose an interpretive structure—the “Sustainable Agri-Food Evaluation Methodology-Garden” (SAEMETH-G), that is able to quantifiably guide the sustainability evaluation of various school garden organizational forms. As a case study, the methodology was applied to 15 school gardens located in three regions of Kenya, Africa. This application of SAEMETH-G as an assessment tool based on user-friendly indicators demonstrates that it is possible to carry out sustainability evaluations of school gardens through a participatory and interdisciplinary approach. Thus, the hypothesis that the original SAEMETH operative framework could be tested in gardens has also been confirmed. SAEMETH-G is a promising tool that has the potential to help us understand school gardens’ sustainability better and to use that knowledge in their further development all over the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Sottile & Daniela Fiorito & Nadia Tecco & Vincenzo Girgenti & Cristiana Peano, 2016. "An Interpretive Framework for Assessing and Monitoring the Sustainability of School Gardens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:8:p:801-:d:75959
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. van Calker, K. J. & Berentsen, P. B. M. & de Boer, I. M. J. & Giesen, G. W. J. & Huirne, R. B. M., 2004. "An LP-model to analyse economic and ecological sustainability on Dutch dairy farms: model presentation and application for experimental farm "de Marke"," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 139-160, November.
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    3. Cristiana Peano & Nadia Tecco & Egidio Dansero & Vincenzo Girgenti & Francesco Sottile, 2015. "Evaluating the Sustainability in Complex Agri-Food Systems: The SAEMETH Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-21, May.
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    1. Cristiana Peano & Stefano Massaglia & Chiara Ghisalberti & Francesco Sottile, 2020. "Pathways for the Amplification of Agroecology in African Sustainable Urban Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Hannah Pitt & Mat Jones & Emma Weitkamp, 2018. "Every City a Food Growing City? What Food Growing Schools London Reveals about City Strategies for Food System Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
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    4. Juan Camilo Fontalvo-Buelvas & Marcia Eugenio-Gozalbo & Yadeneyro de la Cruz-Elizondo & Miguel Ángel Escalona-Aguilar, 2023. "Evaluating University Gardens as Innovative Practice in Education for Sustainability: A Latin-American Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, February.

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