RETHINKING THE BENEFITS VS RISKS OF COMMUNITY GARDENS: FROM ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) TO LEAD CONTAMINATION IN SAN DIEGO CA

Aneika Perez, San Diego State University / University of California at Santa Barbara

In recent years, community gardens have become increasingly popular. Supporters believe cultivating food together in urban spaces can help tackle social, economic, health, and environmental issues. Numerous studies highlight the diverse benefits of urban agriculture, especially in low-income communities of color where access to fresh food and green spaces is often scarce. However, marginalized communities often face significant challenges in establishing and sustaining gardens due to economic investment, political neglect, and environmental pollution and degradation. One of the most pressing issues is soil contamination caused by historical industrial activities and urbanization. Some studies have begun to document the risks posed by heavy metals in urban soils to the health and well-being of gardeners and those who consume the produce they grow. Urban political ecology literature suggests that urban green spaces - such as community gardens - are shaped by power dynamics that influence cities'' availability, quality, and distribution. Under neoliberal urbanism, clean land is allocated to community agriculture primarily if it aligns with a growth agenda that supports capital accumulation. Otherwise, community groups are left to their own devices to secure land and cultivate healthy soil. My dissertation examines the disparities in community gardening opportunities in San Diego, with a particular focus on the challenges encountered by Latino communities.

Keywords: Census data, Mixed methods research, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

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