Can your phone help you go green? A recent study by Ewa Duda analysed nearly 8,000 user reviews of 14 urban gardening mobile apps. She found that these apps can serve as valuable educational tools for novice gardeners, offering guidance and reminders to act. However, technical issues and complex interfaces remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. She concludes that mobile gardening apps have the potential to offer support to a user’s specific needs and could help cities become greener environments.
The study uncovered users’ preferences for diverse learning methods, including articles, visualisations, and videos. Gardeners appreciated features like companion planting guides and pest control advice. Many users viewed knowledge-sharing through social platforms as crucial to their learning process. The research highlighted the need for apps to balance advanced features with user-friendly interfaces, catering to both novices and experienced gardeners alike.
Duda employed a qualitative approach, analysing user reviews from 14 urban gardening apps on Google Play Store. She selected the apps based on their focus on supporting home or garden plant cultivation. Using MAXQDA qualitative coding software, she examined approximately 7,980 reviews, including positive, negative, and neutral feedback. The analysis followed a systematic coding process to identify key themes and user preferences.
Urban agriculture is gaining traction as a sustainable solution for food security and green city development. Mobile apps offer innovative ways to educate and engage city dwellers in gardening practices. Despite their potential, research on urban gardening apps remains limited. This study addresses this gap, providing insights for app developers, urban planners, and educators to harness technology in promoting sustainable urban food production.
Duda, E. (2024). Urban gardening education: User reflections on mobile application designs. PLOS ONE, 19(9), e0310357. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310357 (OA)
