Presentations and publications from my research into urban agriculture

Good ideas often go nowhere because their benefits are not backed up with scientific studies and data. This can be the case with sustainable urban agriculture…most people would agree that it is a good idea, but when it comes to quantifying the actual benefits, there is little data. From my humble backyard, I have collected lots of data, which I am writing up for publication when appropriate. I have completed some research goals and presented findings from those efforts in the form of presentations and publications. These are listed below for your benefit and use (please credit me, though). Where available, I have links to more information.

Research

Zahina-Ramos, John. 2018. Measuring Food Sustainability and the Benefits of Urban Agriculture. 283 pgs. Click here for more information.

In this book, Measuring Food Sustainability and the Benefits of Urban Agriculture, Dr. Z tackles the complex and often misunderstood topics of food sustainability, urban agriculture and agricultural sustainability. This work provides the data and analysis that were the foundation of his award-winning book Just One Backyard: One Man’s Search for Food Sustainability. This book is suitable to be used as a textbook for college courses on sustainability, sustainable agriculture, urban agriculture or sustainable cities. Its usefulness is not restricted to the academic world, as its clear presentation makes it also suitable for community leaders, policymakers and practitioners of urban agriculture. The first chapters of this book provide a lucid review of urban agriculture, including its many forms and issues, and places urban agriculture within the context of environmental, economic and social sustainability. The book then progresses from theory to the applied sciences by presenting metrics that objectively measure the environmental, economic and social sustainability benefits of urban agricultural operations. The final chapters of the book demonstrate how one can apply these metrics to quantitatively measure food sustainability and the beneficial effects of urban agricultural operations by analyzing the results from a landmark 5-year urban food growing study. This book is an important contribution to the quantitative sustainability sciences and should be on the bookshelf of every small-scale agricultural practitioner, community leader, governmental sustainability office and sustainability instructor.

Zahina-Ramos, John. 2015. Just One Backyard: One Man’s Search for Food Sustainability. 280 pgs. Click here for more information.

This book discusses ancient and modern agricultural systems, and introduces the results from Dr. Zahina-Ramos’ 5-year urban residential food garden research. The environmental, ecological and economic benefits of this food garden was carefully measured and documented. The results show just how beneficial urban agriculture can be and is the first study of its kind.

Zahina-Ramos, John. 2013. Attitudes and perspectives about backyard food gardening: A case study in south Florida. Ph.D. dissertation, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.
Click here to access this document electronically
Abstract: As cities grew throughout the past century, the availability of locally grown food declined, mostly because urban expansion occurred at the expense of adjacent agricultural land. As a result, city dwellers turned to commercial food market systems that import food from distant production areas. Private greenspace, which is one of the largest land cover types in cities, offers the potential for substantial agricultural production. Because urban food production on private land, such as backyards, requires the willing participation of landowners, resident’s feelings about and experience with food growing are important to understand. The demographic groups that were most likely to food garden were those in long-term relationships, higher income brackets, those with college education and residents over 50 years old. Incentives and programs focused on producing more from existing gardens may be most appropriate for people in these demographic groups, while other groups will most require basic food growing information. Study participants highly valued intangible benefits of food gardening (e.g., relaxation, feelings of happiness and satisfaction), often more than the provision of food. Most barriers and problems with backyard food growing, such as a lack of space and the need for gardening information, were similar for those who food garden and those who do not. Results from this study indicate that traditional agricultural incentives and perspectives must be rethought if they are to be applied in urban settings. By creating incentives and initiatives that reflect the needs and challenges faced by urban growers, urban agriculture will become an integrated part of the community, improving food quantity and quality while enriching residents’ lives.

Conference Presentations

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2017. The many benefits of our urban food gardens. Keynote speaker at the Second Driftless Area Garden Conference; April 22; University of Wisconsin Platteville.

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2016. Environmental, ecological and economic benefits of urban food gardens. First Driftless Area Garden Conference; April 2; University of Wisconsin Platteville.

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2015. It’s more than a school garden! Palm Beach County Learn Green Conference; November 16; Boynton Beach, FL.

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2014. Quantifying urban food sustainability in south Florida. Annual conference of the Association of American Geographers; April 8-12, Tampa, FL.

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2013. Backyard food gardening and urban food sustainability: a case study in south Florida. Annual conference of the Florida Association of American Geographers; February 8-10, Tallahassee, FL.

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2013. Quantifying urban food sustainability in south Florida. Annual conference of the West Lakes Division of the American Association of Geographers; October 17-19, Eau Claire, WI.

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2012. Quantifying urban food sustainability: A case study in south Florida. Annual conference of the Southeastern District of the Association of American Geographers, Nov. 8-12, 2012, Asheville, NC.

Zahina-Ramos, J.G. 2012. The importance of local natural habitat to urban agriculture. ACES/Ecosystem Markets conference, Dec. 10-14, 2012, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Science Presentations & Publications

Presentations and publications from my research into urban agriculture

Research

Conference Presentations

Other Presentations by Dr. Z