Urban Horticulture PDF

Preface

Public green spaces within city environments are threatened by urbanization. Technological advances and the commonality of electronic devices have in’uenced people to spend less and less time in nature. The purpose of this book is to explore the importance of horticulture in the lives, health, and well-being of urban populations. The book examines the types of public and private community, state, and federal programs in horticulture, their history, management and administration, programming, evaluation, funding, and bene”ts. Readers will learn how passive and active interactions with plants bene”t humans by improving physical and mental health, quality of life, and social well-being, as well as neighborhoods and communities

The research area of human issues in horticulture, sociohorticulture, people–plant interactions, and/or horticultural therapy has developed to include a body of research that is not presented in one text. However, the subject matter is becoming a course option at universities with horticulture programs as an elective, service-learning, or web-based class for undergraduates or graduate students. This book includes past and current research on school, community, public, and prison gardens among others, as well as questions for discussions, example class activities, example case studies, and online access to examples of Power Point presentations, which can provide the basis for a web-based course or a jump-start to lectures for instructors.

The idea for the book grew from the editors’ experiences researching the ”eld for over 20 years.

Traditional studies in horticulture have focused on production and landscape horticulture, whereas urban horticulture considers and emphasizes the individuals and communities bene”ting from the horticultural landscape. The hope is that this book will raise awareness and appreciation for the value of horticulture for aspects beyond food and aesthetics, and that readers will realize the need and value of nature and plants in our daily lives.

Researching and practicing experts from across the United States were selected to discuss the history, importance, and researched bene”ts of each topic. The book is written for the general public, as well as those studying general horticulture, future horticultural educators, horticultural therapists, and those involved in public horticulture.

Additional material is available from the CRC website: http://www.crcpress.com/ product/isbn/9781482260991.