Measuring the Impacts of Community Innovations: the Little Free Farmstand in Geneva, New York
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Measuring the Impacts of Community Innovations: the Little Free Farmstand in Geneva, New York Craig A. Talmage 1
& Sarah
A. Meyer 1 & Eileen Rath 1
Received: 18 September 2019 / Accepted: 26 December 2019/ # Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Various community innovations can positively impact food insecurity and hunger, while also addressing food waste issues. This article focuses on a community innovation known as the Little Free Farmstand (LFF) of Geneva, New York. Little free approaches have appeared across the world to improve access to resources as well as promoting kindness in many communities. This case article undertakes an investigation of the impacts of two LFF’s regarding food security and food waste in the City of Geneva. An applied mixed method approach using photojournalism, formal and informal data solicitation from community members, note-taking, and team reflection were undertaken to analyze the impacts of the LFFs. Despite limitations with the study methods discussed in this article, the LFFs demonstrated positive impacts indirectly and directly regarding decreasing food waste and improving access to free, healthy food. While the results of the two LFFs’ impacts in the city are interesting, this study showcases accessible methods that other communities can use to measure the impacts of their own community innovations regarding food security and food waste. This study concludes by sharing the various challenges of the LFF project, especially regarding measuring community innovations’ impacts. These challenges are separated into economic, social and environmental categories. Keywords Social innovation . Community development . Food systems .
Local agriculture . Community engagement . Community research
* Craig A. Talmage [email protected] Sarah A. Meyer [email protected] Eileen Rath [email protected]
1
Hobart & William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney Street, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
International Journal of Community Well-Being
Issue at Hand Across the world, many communities struggle with hunger and food insecurity (Barrett 2010; Sanchez and Swaminathan 2005). Globally, Barrett (2010) estimated that over a billion individuals will not access the dietary energy they need and that over two billion will face deficiencies regarding micronutrients. In the U.S., an estimated 41 million people struggle with issues related to hunger and food insecurity. Five million of these people are older adults, and 13 million are children. These numbers align with the 40.6 million who face poverty in the U.S. (Feeding America 2018); food security is inextricably linked with food production, poverty, social conflict, and power structures (Barrett 2010). Many individuals also live in food deserts, that is, areas with low access to affordable, healthy foods, such as fresh produce (USDA 2018). Finally, food insecurity and food waste are both linked to community well-being (O’Donnell et al. 2015; Smale and Hilbrecht 2017; Sung and Phillips 2018). This study concerns Upstate New York and its prevailing issues o
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