Impact of a Community Gardening Project on Vegetable Intake, Food Security and Family Relationships: A Community-based Participatory Research Study

Abstract

Purpose To describe the impact of a community gardening project on vegetable intake, food security and family relationships. Methods This community-based participatory research project used popular education techniques to support and educate Hispanic farm worker families in planting and maintaining organic gardens. Measures included a pre- post gardening survey, key informant interviews and observations made at community-based gardening meetings to assess food security, safety and family relationships. Results Thirty-eight families enrolled in the study during the pre-garden time period, and four more families enrolled in the study during the post-garden period, for a total of 42 families enrolled in the 2009 gardening season. Of the families enrolled during the pre-gardening time period there were 163 household members. The mean age of the interviewee was 44.0, ranging from 21 to 78 years of age. The median number of occupants in a household was 4.0 (range: 2 to 8), Frequency of adult vegetable intake of “Several time a day” increased from 18.2% to 84.8%, (p < 0.001) and frequency of children’s vegetable intake of “Several time a day” increased from 24.0% to 64.0%, (p = 0.003). Before the gardening season, the sum of the frequencies of “Sometimes” and “Frequently” worrying in the past month that food would run out before money was available to buy more was 31.2% and the sum of these frequencies dropped to 3.1% during the post garden period, (p = 0.006). The frequency of skipping meals due to lack of money was not statistically significantly different before and after the gardening season for either adults or children. Analysis of text responses and key informant interviews revealed that physical and mental health benefits were reported as well as economic and family health benefits from the gardening study, primarily because the families often worked in their gardens together. Conclusions A community gardening program can reduce food insecurity, improve dietary intake and strengthen family relationships.

Community and home gardens increase vegetable intake and food security of residents in San Jose, California

“…Similarly, other studies have shown that community gardens provide a space and activity around which to socialize and develop social networks (Carney et al 2012;Harris et al 2014;Pitt 2014;Zick et al 2013). …”

“…As an extensive and popular land use, home food gardens make up a much larger portion of the total area of urban land in food production than public sites of urban agriculture (Carney et al 2012;Kortright and Wakefield 2010;Taylor and Lovell 2012). For the many people who do not have access to a community garden, gardening at home can be a strategy for improving access to fresh produce.…”

Contributing to food security in urban areas: differences between urban agriculture and peri-urban agriculture in the Global North

“…Alaimo et al (2008) and Carney et al (2011) explored the relation of UA and fruit and vegetable intake levels among the participants of community gardening projects, just as Kortright and Wakefield (2011) did for residential food production. Turner (2011) investigated how awareness of seasonal products was affected.…”

An Analysis of the Potential Risk Exposure to Lead (Pb) through Urban Community Gardens

“…However, only a small percentage of the population eats the recommended amounts (Litt et al, 2011). In the United States, only approximately 20% of the population eats fruits and vegetables five times per day (Carney et al, 2012). One study by Carney et al (2012) showed a fruit and vegetable intake increase among people participating in gardening projects, with consumption rates of four times more fruits and vegetables in adults and three times more in children.…”

“…One study by Carney et al (2012) showed a fruit and vegetable intake increase among people participating in gardening projects, with consumption rates of four times more fruits and vegetables in adults and three times more in children. Many of the families were also pleased they were growing vegetables they knew contained no pesticides (Carney et al, 2012).…”