Growing Roots: The role of collective community gardening in cultural food insecurity and social integration of African Immigrants in Edmonton, AB

Background: Food insecurity is a public health challenge that has worsened with increasing cost of living due to inflation and the COVID-19 aftermath. Social and economic inequalities have deepened as communities on the margins especially immigrants experience increased inequities in accessing basic amenities such as housing and food. In Canada, immigrants are experiencing financial and cultural food insecurity. However, limited knowledge exists on the role of collective community gardens in addressing these aspects of food insecurity. Methods: We conducted a community-based participatory research (CBPR) informed by an Afrocentric lens using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Data collection involved an online survey (n=119) which was co-developed and co-administered by our community partners - Sinkunia Community Development Organization (SCDO). The questionnaires were pre-tested with a subsample of community members to ensure reliability and validity of the tool. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were also conducted with purposefully sampled participants (n=10) to obtain nuanced narratives. This study included Black African immigrants from 13 sub-Saharan countries. Individuals from Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe are represented in the sample. Results: High prevalence of food insecurity (75.6%, n=90) was observed in the sample (n=119), higher than the general Canadian household prevalence rate. Participants recalled experiencing food insecurity ranging from mild (39.5%, n=47) to moderate (26.1%, n=31), and severe (10.1%, n=12) food insecurity in the recall period. High prevalence of cultural food insecurity was also observed, most (80.7%, n=96) of participants reported experiencing deprivation. Participants reported occasional struggles accessing cultural food, primarily due to high costs, limited availability, and worries about the quality. Participants demonstrated resilience and adaptability in maintaining their cultural foodways amid these challenges. About 4 in 5 participants engaged in some form of gardening. Engagement in collective community gardening provided spaces for cultivating connections to food production and shaping Black immigrant individuals’ relationship with the food environment. These “third spaces” serve as cultural melting pots with collective work fostering both intercultural and intergenerational bridges through embedding cultural foodways into children’s everyday experiences. Conclusion: Food insecurity remains a critical issue for Black immigrants in Edmonton, Alberta who are experiencing elevated risk. Our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence on the embodied benefits of community gardens for food security and social placemaking of immigrant populations. High interest and engagement in gardening activities in the population suggests potential for expansion of community-led initiatives.