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McNeal FINAL THESIS.pdf (1.04 MB)

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Solving challenges to urban agriculture in disadvantaged communities through collaborative partnerships: a case study of Columbus, Ohio

McNeal, Waymon Louis, III
http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4558-4424
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu168621840009429

Abstract Details

2023, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Natural Resources.
One of the critical questions in the field of environment and natural resources from a policy perspective is to understand how collaborative processes and beneficial working relationships can lead to improved urban farming practices. While the topic has received attention by scholars across the nation, research on this topic is lacking regarding urban agriculture in low-income settings of Columbus Ohio. In this thesis, I will examine the perceived barriers that historically underserved urban farmers encounter in low-income settings. Specifically, I study the Community Growers Network (CGN), a new collaborative initiative that brings together urban farmers to work on creative solutions to solve their problems. Through interviews and participant observation, I uncover and explain the variables that limit urban agriculture production and help establishing stronger collaborative relationships between urban farmers. According to the interviews there are a plethora of challenges that urban farmers face; however, in this thesis I only highlighted the challenges that were common amongst all interviewees which are, 1) Land management, 2) Access to proper infrastructure, 3) Labor force (access to volunteers), 4) Access to funding 5) Access to specialized knowledge, and 6) Pest control and soil management. I find that he CGN is, in general, well equipped to help farmers face these challenges, and that the inner structure of the network is conducive to such solutions. I conclude by discussing the limitations of this study and potential areas of development for future research. I highlight not only the academic value of these findings, but also the value for individuals working in the development of urban farming in Columbus Ohio.
Ramiro Berardo (Advisor)
Matthew Hamilton Hamilton (Committee Member)
Kristi Lekies (Committee Member)
61 p.
Agriculture; Environmental Management; Land Use Planning; Natural Resource Management; Sustainability
Network analysis; Community Growers Network; Nodes; collaboration; challenges, partnerships; Urban agriculture; historically unserved growers; Columbus Ohio;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McNeal, III, W. L. (2023). Solving challenges to urban agriculture in disadvantaged communities through collaborative partnerships: a case study of Columbus, Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu168621840009429

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McNeal, III, Waymon. Solving challenges to urban agriculture in disadvantaged communities through collaborative partnerships: a case study of Columbus, Ohio. 2023. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu168621840009429.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McNeal, III, Waymon. "Solving challenges to urban agriculture in disadvantaged communities through collaborative partnerships: a case study of Columbus, Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu168621840009429

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu168621840009429
188
© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.