Research team from University of Turku finds increased significance of urban gardening during COVID-19 pandemic

A research team from the University of Turku has found that the significance of urban gardening, particularly box gardening, increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. More individuals took up urban gardening, making it increasingly important to them. The study supports earlier findings suggesting that box gardening enhances people’s resilience, enabling them to cope with the challenges posed by difficult situations.

Laura Tuominen, a PhD researcher in environmental science at the University of Turku, along with her team, investigated how the pandemic influenced urban gardening, its benefits, and the attitudes of gardeners. The team compared data collected before the pandemic with data gathered during the period from 2019 to 2021. They utilized field studies and surveys completed by gardeners to compile their ecological data.

The results indicated that urban gardeners remained equally motivated to grow plants before and during the pandemic. However, box gardening was not without its challenges; some gardeners expressed concerns about the potential risk of contracting the virus from plants in public spaces.

Since the city began offering gardening boxes to residents in 2016, the popularity of box gardening in Turku has seen consistent growth. By 2021, there were approximately 800 boxes located in nearly 300 different sites throughout the city.

Tuominen emphasized the importance of maintaining and enhancing the resilience of individuals and communities during the pandemic. Studies have shown that access to urban green spaces, such as parks and gardens, supported people’s resilience and well-being during this challenging time. She believes that participatory planning and promoting safe social interactions between gardeners could further enhance the benefits of box gardening during crises.