Melissa Arreola
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Raymond De Young
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Behavior, Education, and Communication / SNRE
Program: CG
Session: Session 7 (4:40pm – 5:30pm)
Authors: Melissa Arreola, Emily Wilkins, Raymond De Young, Jess Lasoff-Santos, Tara-Sky Woodward, Ginger Harris
Abstract
Numerous effects of the climate crisis are already visible in the global sphere. In response, many communities are looking for ways to mitigate the negative effects they must face by building resilience. One way individuals and families can help to promote community resilience and self-reliance is through their involvement in the local food provisioning economy. The circular food provisioning system engages participants in behaviors such as gardening, buying locally produced foods, eating foods that are in-season, and composting food waste on a variety of scales. Engaging in such behaviors enhances local food security. The purpose of this research is to examine resident attitudes, motivations, and conflicts as driven by past exposure to the notion of food sustainability. In addition, current levels of engagement in the provisioning economy and willingness to increase that involvement are measured, as are any resulting increase in psychological well-being. To collect data, Washtenaw County residents, at various local food-related locations, were given an informational brochure about the circular provisioning economy with the option to take an online survey to measure their involvement in this system and the effect that engaging in these behaviors has on the variables mentioned above. To help design the survey instrument, interviews were first conducted with local stakeholders to assess community concerns regarding the local food provisioning system. It is hypothesized that engaging in provisioning behaviors increases psychological well-being. This study aims to pinpoint opportunities for intervention in the local food provisioning economy that can drive future community-wide resilience efforts.
