Recorded presentation

Lisa Kingery, MS, RD, Foodways, 1425 North Cass Street, Suite 203, Milwaukee, WI 53202, 646-824-8200, lkingeryrd@yahoo.com

Research shows that a population’s food environment is the best predictor of intake. Though they have rarely been studied, community gardens provide a cheap and effective means of improving the food environment in low-income neighborhoods, where access to fresh produce is often limited. This study examined the impact that community gardens have on fruit and vegetable consumption. The motivations for gardening were also surveyed. Using the National Cancer Institute’s All Day Quick Food Screener a sample of 29 gardeners from 6 randomly selected gardens in the Crotona neighborhood of New York City’s South Bronx and 27 comparison subjects living in the vicinity were surveyed on diet. Gardeners were also asked to identify their main reasons for gardening. The gardens were surveyed for yield and function. Seasonal yield averaged at 730 pounds of produce per garden ranging from 250 to 1375 pounds. Combined, the gardeners grew 41 different types of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Overall, gardeners reported eating twice as many servings of fruits and vegetables as non-gardeners(p<0.002); they ate 4 times as many servings of vegetables alone(p<.001). Surprisingly, gardeners cited mental health (41%), meaningful work (28%), recreation (28%), fresh produce (24%), experiencing nature (24%), social reasons (14%), and exercise (7%), rather than healthy diets as the motivations for gardening. The inclusion of community gardening in public health initiatives that are aimed at improving diet and psychosocial wellbeing warrants serious consideration.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the impact community gardens have on fruit and vegetable intake.
• Identify key motivations for participating in community gardening projects and their relationship to health promotion.
• Recognize the potential of community gardens in promoting physical and psychosocial health in low-income communities.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation