Examining inclusive governance of community gardens: lessons from European cities

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2025.100286

As urban populations grow and climate pressures intensify, community gardens (CGs) are increasingly recognised as infrastructures that support food sovereignty, resilience, and social inclusion. Yet little is known about how governance, understood here as the structures, relationships, and participatory processes through which actors share decisions, shapes these outcomes. This study addresses this gap by examining how governance influence inclusion and long-term viability in seven CGs located in Portugal, Türkiye, Austria, Hungary, and Greece, all targeting vulnerable communities. Using a qualitative comparative design, we combine semi-structured interviews (n = 65), policy and document analysis, and a cross-case scoring system to assess structural, relational, and procedural governance dimensions through an intersectional gender + lens. Findings show clear patterns: CGs with stronger relational and procedural governance demonstrate higher levels of inclusion, particularly for women, migrants, and low-income residents. Structurally robust CGs, characterised by secure land tenure, formalisation, and institutional support, are crucial for long-term stability and potential scaling. However, weak vertical policy integration across local, national, and European levels in most cases limits their broader systemic impact. Overall, the results suggest that long-term outcomes are best supported by governance frameworks that combine institutional support, citizen co-decision-making, and coherent multilevel policy articulation. These insights contribute to debates on urban governance by identifying practical pathways for municipalities and communities to co-produce more equitable and durable governance arrangements around community gardens.