Volunteer motivation in Vancouver's Green Streets Program

Abstract: Volunteers create and maintain over 350 flower gardens in traffic circles and corner bulges in the streets of Vancouver. Vancouver´s Green Streets Program is run by the City of Vancouver and started initially because citizens were asking for it.In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve gardeners in their gardens. They were asked about their motivations for initially joining and staying with the program. The research on the benefits of community gardening is extensive and shows proof of improved mental health and social bonding. Motivation is more sparsely examined. No earlier studies have focused solely on motivation.The reasons that the gardeners gave for maintaining their street garden were arranged into eight categories: garden interest, well-being, learning, creating, values, improving environment, encounters and sharing. The most common motivation for joining the Green Streets Program was an inwardly-focused personal joy of gardening. The motivations for remaining in the program tended to be the more externally-focused desire to share their gardens with others and people passing by.A final part includes implementations based on the interviews and earlier literature. Urban gardening programs are often referred to be a way to cope with climate change. Even if that might be an outcome is that not a main reason for people to participate in this case. Among other things is the accessibility to home and to offer an opportunity to participate factors to consider in planning.