An international student proudly holds culturally familiar vegetables she grew in a Guelph community garden after struggling to find them locally. This photograph reflects a central theme of my master’s research at the University of Guelph: how international students navigate opportunities and barriers to cultural food access in a small city. Her harvest illustrates the connection between individual agency and community growing spaces. It highlights how access to land can help students sustain food traditions and create a sense of home, offering insights for more culturally inclusive campus and community food initiatives.
