Alternative Food Systems at Ground Level: The Fairbanks Community Garden

Abstract

Alternative food system initiatives are often advocated as ways to meet goals of food security, environmental security, and community well-being. This paper presents data on one form of alternative food system initiative, a community garden, specifically regarding current and potential contributions to food security and social integration. Related to these goals, the most successful aspects of the community garden are provision of space and equipment to people who lacked these resources, as well as the creation of opportunities for a diverse cross-section of the community to develop personal relationships. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]