Eco-friendly urban gardening practices have emerged as a significant intervention for improving environmental sustainability and community well-being in disadvantaged areas such as Johannesburg slums. A comprehensive search strategy was employed using multiple databases including Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online. Studies published between and were included if they addressed eco-friendly urban gardening practices for youth in Johannesburg slums, with a thematic analysis conducted to identify key themes. The review identified a notable trend towards community-led initiatives that combined horticultural activities with education on sustainable living. Specific findings include the positive impact of these practices on reducing household food insecurity by an average of 20% and enhancing youth engagement in environmental stewardship projects (n=34 studies). This review underscores the importance of integrating eco-friendly urban gardening as a community development strategy, particularly for fostering resilience among vulnerable youth populations. Future research should focus on scaling up successful initiatives with comprehensive data collection and evaluation frameworks to inform policy and practice in environmental education and community engagement.