Exploring the meaning of growing food in community gardens to South African township residents: A photovoice study

The purpose of this research is to explore the motivation for, and potential effects of, participation in a township community garden. The authors conducted a photovoice study with 18 South African township residents who grew their own food as part of a community gardening program in the Western Cape. The results show that informants are motivated by better food access, increases in knowledge, financial savings, and independence. Informants perceive various positive effects from their involvement: they share knowledge, experience psychological and social effects, and engage in knowledge transfer practices for resource integration and value creation when they participate in the program. The study thus extends prior research on community gardening, particularly in relation to helping low-income populations decrease food insecurity. •The study considers motives for, and effects of, participation in a community garden.•South African township residents with low income were interviewed via photovoice.•The motives are food access, increase in knowledge, savings, and independence in life.•Informants increase subject wellbeing, engage in improving knowledge of gardening and potentially developing entrepreneurial garden produce business.