Characterizing motivations for urban gardening: Denver, Colorado

Abstract

Urban community gardens (UCGs) often play positive roles in transforming community-level social determinants of health. As an underexplored area of public health, it is crucial to understand people’s motivations to join UCGs; doing so provides greater insight into a community’s priorities, while also allowing us to more effectively tailor UCGs to meet participants’ needs. This study draws on ethnographic and qualitative methods, with the objective of understanding why people garden at UCGs in the Denver Metro Area. Data collection involved participant observation, as well as semi-structured interviews with gardeners from seven different UCGs. Data were thematically analyzed to identify motivations for UCG participation. Six key motivations were identified, encompassing both initial and long-term drivers of UCG engagement. These include lack of land access, appreciation for nature and environmental activism, civic engagement, and mental and physical health benefits. Additionally, this study notes cultural preservation and desire for increased community connection as common initial motivators for their UCG participation. By understanding why gardeners originally joined their UCG, and what continually motivates them to garden, we can better understand what roles UCGs effectively serve in Denver neighborhoods. This information may help target UCGs as public health interventions for those who would benefit most from participation, increasing engagement with this health promotion tool.