ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1356: XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Urban Horticulture for Sustainable Food Security (UrbanFood2022)
UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County, Florida, community garden supports healthy living |
| Author: | T.L. Freeman |
| Keywords: | garden, health, wellbeing, wellness, extension, gardening methods |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1356.48 |
| Abstract:
UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County offers a 1-ha community garden plot that is accessible to county residents for a modest fee and includes 7 by 7 m and 7 by 9 m garden plots. The objective of our community garden program is to provide a gardening environment where plot holders’ lives are enhanced physically, financially, emotionally and socially, as well as provide opportunities for participants to improve their gardening knowledge and skillset. Annual surveys have been distributed from 2017 to 2021 to collect data from participants on the benefits experienced as a result of participating in our community garden program. In this five year time span, community garden participants reported improved health and wellbeing as a result of participating in the program: 89% (n=46) reported monetary savings; 94% (n=47) experienced increased access to fresh, healthy foods; 94% (n=47) improved physical health; 87% (n=23) improved nutrition; 98% (n=47) increased physical activity; 79% (n=47) increased emotional wellbeing due to social contact with other gardeners; and 91% (n=47) reported an increase in gardening skills or knowledge from reading the newsletter, learning from the demonstration plot, communication with other gardeners, and/or education provided by the extension office. Data collected from 5 years of annual surveys demonstrate direct monetary, physical, emotional and social wellbeing, as well as an increased skillset or knowledge gained by participants in our community garden program. | |
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