Refugees are a particularly vulnerable population who undergo nutrition transition as a result of forced migration. This paper explores how involvement in a community food garden supports African humanitarian migrant connectedness with their new country. A cross-sectional study of a purposive sample of African refugees participating in a campus-based community food garden was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with twelve African humanitarian migrants who tended established garden plots within the garden. Interview data were thematically analysed revealing three factors which participants identified as important benefits in relation to community garden participation: land tenure, reconnecting with agri-culture, and community belonging. Community food gardens offer a tangible means for African refugees, and other vulnerable or marginalised populations, to build community and community connections. This is significant given the increasing recognition of the importance of social connectedness for wellbeing. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Nutrition transition Refugee health Community food garden Social connectedness

vulnerable population cultural anthropology crop production food gardening refugee Australia Gardening human wellbeing Refugees garden social interaction African Cross-Sectional Studies African immigrant forced migration cross-sectional study migrant psychology Humans Black person African Continental Ancestry Group semi structured interview food availability Socioeconomic Factors accessibility socioeconomics Land Tenure Article social adaptation social participation food security migration Queensland marginalization Transients and Migrants immigrant population