Abstract
This research examined case studies of urban community gardens in seven different American states to determine whether the factors of sociability, participatory decision-making, leadership, and land tenure are likely to contribute to community garden success. The case studies included community gardens that have been in operation for at least five years (categorized in the successful group) and community gardens that have closed (categorized in the unsuccessful group). The methodological approach was qualitative, and data were drawn from phone interviews and written responses from 34 individuals. Sociability and participatory decision-making were similarities across all groups and thus I concluded that they were not causal factors for community garden success. Land tenure and leadership were key differences between successful and unsuccessful gardens. Accordingly, it is plausible to conclude that these factors were critical for community garden success. Based on the above findings, I conclude with recommendations for local governments in the areas of land use policies and training/technical assistance.