Accessible Urban Farming Impact Outcomes
Accessible Urban Farming
Students in the Accessible Urban Farming Lab partnered with faculty Ilaria Tabusso-Marcyan, an assistant teaching professor in the School of International Letters and Cultures and Terri Hlava, a professor at the School of Social Transformation. The instruction team additionally included Social Sciences librarian Mimmo Bonanni and Makerspace Director Victor Surovec, as well as community partner Maya’s Farm, to explore how urban farming environments can be made more accessible, equitable, and inclusive for diverse communities. Through hands-on fieldwork, site visits, and direct engagement with local farming spaces, students-faculty-librarian team examined barriers that limit participation in local food systems and access to fresh, healthy food, developing interdisciplinary projects that respond to real-world accessibility challenges. These efforts culminated in impact-driven outcomes, including accessible infrastructure, assistive tools, and inclusive information systems that improve navigation, safety, and engagement, ultimately contributing to more inclusive food systems and expanding access to shared community spaces for people of all abilities.
Student Outcomes
Artisans Accessibility: Growing Without Barriers
One student-led project addressed a critical physical accessibility challenge at Maya’s Farm, where a water crossing created an unsafe and restrictive barrier for movement. The team designed and constructed a wooden accessibility bridge with safety rails to eliminate this hazard and ensure safe passage across the farm. By removing a key obstacle, the project improves mobility, expands access to farming areas, and reinforces the importance of inclusive infrastructure in community spaces. This outcome demonstrates how small design interventions can significantly increase participation and equity in urban farming environments. To learn more, click here.
Mini Maya’s: Tactile Map & Audio Navigation System
This project focused on improving accessibility for individuals with visual impairments by creating a multi-sensory navigation system for Maya’s Farm. The team developed a 3D tactile model of the farm paired with an audio-guided experience, allowing users to better understand spatial layouts and navigate with confidence. By combining physical and digital accessibility tools, the project reduces uncertainty in unfamiliar environments and creates a more inclusive and engaging farm experience. To learn more, click here.
Braille Accessibility in Urban Farming Spaces
This project explored the integration of Braille-based communication systems within urban farming environments to support independent navigation and learning. The team designed and evaluated tactile signage solutions that can be embedded into farm spaces, enabling individuals with visual impairments to access critical information about crops and surroundings. The work highlights the importance of standardized, thoughtfully implemented accessibility features in improving usability and inclusion. To learn more, click here.
Just Onions: Community-Based Food Access Initiative
This project addressed accessibility in food systems by focusing on community engagement and local food production. The team cultivated and distributed onions while creating educational touchpoints to connect people with the origins of their food. By bridging classroom learning with real-world farming practices, the project increases awareness, promotes participation, and supports equitable access to fresh produce within the community. To learn more, click here.
Modern Information Accessibility & Campus Connectivity
This project focused on improving how people discover and engage with urban farming initiatives across ASU. The team identified gaps in awareness and access to campus farming spaces and designed a system to connect students, faculty, and visitors to these resources. By enhancing visibility and access to information, the project encourages broader participation and strengthens the relationship between the university community and local food systems. To learn more, click here.
Accessibility Urban Farming Garden Collective
At the end of the semester, the Accessible Urban Farming Garden Collective brought together students, faculty, and community members for a public showcase of work developed through the Accessible Urban Farming Lab. Hosted on the west patio of Durham Hall, the event highlighted student-led projects that explore how accessibility and equity in local food systems can shape healthier, more inclusive communities.
Students presented their work through posters, sharing the thinking, research, and hands-on processes behind their solutions. From improving physical access within farm spaces to designing tools for individuals with visual impairments, each project reflected a commitment to making urban farming more inclusive and approachable for all.
The event also created space for learning and participation beyond the classroom. In collaboration with the Humanities Lab and the Seed Library, attendees were invited to engage in hands-on activities that introduced the basics of planting, growing, and maintaining plants. These interactions encouraged visitors to build their own connection with nature and local food systems.
Collaborative Partners
- Victor Surovec Director, Makerspace
- Jacob Bunch, Ed.D. Program Coordinator Sr, EOSS SAILS Accommodation Services
- Elizabeth Grumbach Assistant Director of Research and Strategic Communications, Lincoln Center Applied Ethics
- Sada Gilbert, Master Gardener Associate
- Maya Dailey, Maya's Farm
- ASU Farm
Steven Zuiker Associate Professor, Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation
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