Project FACT - Community Gardening

 

 

A Community Garden Project for Inner City Minority Youth and

Families to Learn about Gardening, Entrepreneurship and Healthful Eating

 

      Encouraging children to grow their own fruits and vegetables may make them more receptive to eating fresh products. The purpose of this community garden initiative was to increase the number of youth who report eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, reduce the proportion of school age students who engage in no leisure-time physical activity and promote eating behaviors consistent with managing body weight of all family members.  The community garden had plots available to children, individuals, families and community groups. Children aged 10-13 were paired with children aged 4-9.

      Specifically, the gardening project sought to examine the knowledge gain in science, nutrition, the environment and the personal skill areas.  Methods included systematic observation of educational sessions, pre and post surveys, and interviews.  Surveys conducted after the completion of the growing season showed that children who participated in the community garden consumed the recommended servings of fresh fruits and vegetables and increased their physical activity.  The children connected with the gardening experience, which encouraged them to eat the vegetables that they grew.

      During grocery store tours, the children demonstrated recognition and retention of knowledge about fruits and vegetables grown in the garden. The gardening experience provided a basis for lifelong knowledge and appreciation of good vegetables and good taste.  The community garden initiative improved community health by building community capacity.  The community garden helped established links between plants, gardening, food and health.  The gardening initiative can be applied across a variety of settings and audiences.