Nurturing resilient cities: a systematic literature review of community gardens’ contribution to sustainability, 1992–2021

Abstract

In the face of climate change and rapid urbanization, community gardens (CGs) have emerged as promising grassroots responses promoting urban sustainability. While CGs represent a subset of urban agriculture (UA), their contribution to all facets of sustainability is unknown. We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. A bibliometric analysis identified 1534 UA and 470 CG studies published from 1992 to 2021, followed by an in-depth review and synthesis of 363 CG articles. Our findings show that UA research has focused on food production, while CG studies have emphasized social and urban dynamics, particularly in the Global North, with limited quantitative evidence of their impacts. Additionally, although CGs contribute to all SDGs, especially Sustainable Cities and Communities, Good Health and Zero Hunger, their roles in urban resilience, food systems, and policymaking remain underexplored. As no global estimate of CGs exists, their overall contribution to sustainability is unclear and merits investigation.