Awareness of Allotment Garden Rentals and Food Security Perceptions among HAMK International CSA Students in Finland

Abstract

This thesis study explores the awareness of allotment garden rentals and the food security perceptions of international students in the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) bachelor’s degree program at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK). The study also looks at the students’ interest, the barriers they face, and the benefits they see in allotment gardening. The researcher used a descriptive survey design with 50 HAMK CSA international students as respondents. Data were gathered using an online questionnaire in Webropol. The results showed that students have a moderate concern about having enough food for their daily needs. Awareness of garden rentals was generally low, with many students having no idea where to find a plot. However, many showed a high interest in gardening after being given the right information. The top barriers identified by the respondents were lack of time due to school and work, limited budget for tools, and the difficult commute to the garden locations. The study concludes that while gardening is a great option to improve food security, international students need more awareness and practical support from the university and local organizations to overcome these barriers.