Resilience and Food Security During Times of Crisis: Investigating the Impact of Covid-19 and Climate Change on Urban Community Gardens in the Greater Toronto Area

This qualitative study investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change on urban community gardens (UCGs) in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with regards to use and food security. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven managers and eight members from nine gardens in the GTA. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis and grounded theory. Results suggest that the cultural ecosystem services provided by UCGs have helped people cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. While the relationship between individual food security and UCG use was not significant, participants were concerned about community food security. The main perception of climate change was increasing temperatures, alongside more persistent fungi/pests. This study supports current literature that UCGs help foster resilience in crises. Future research is needed to determine how much UCGs alleviate food insecurity in Canadians, and to further explore the role UCG cultural ecosystem services play in fostering resilience.