A New Zealand study found that community gardens in Wellington could feed nearby gardeners and neighbors after a major disaster, but they can't feed the whole city. Growing much more food would need better land use, more types of urban gardens, and real support from city planners.
1
Community gardens contribute meaningfully to post-disaster vegetable supply for gardeners and nearby residents, including vulnerable groups with elevated nutritional needs, but play a limited role for the wider urban population.
2
Potential future vegetable self-sufficiency from urban agriculture could significantly exceed current levels if land use is optimized and more garden types (beyond community gardens) are developed.
3
Wellington's current food-system and disaster plans are insufficient for post-disaster food security, and community gardens rely on grassroots enthusiasm rather than practical council support despite being proposed as a resilience strategy.
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