The Impact of Extension Gardening Programs on Healthy Attitudes and Behaviors

• DOI: 10.54718/srml7222
• Publication Date: 2022-04-29T17:44:29Z
• Authors: Erica Odera; Alexa J. Lamm; Courtney Owens; Sandra Thompson; Lawrence Carter
• Keywords: Popularity

Gardening programs have been increasing in popularity since 1995 when California enacted legislation with the goal of putting a garden every school. Research has shown positive benefits gardening include child’s academic skills, environmental awareness, and social but little is known about their impact on healthy attitudes behaviors. Considering childhood obesity rates are rapidly increasing, understanding how educational programs, such as gardening, can health become important. The purpose this study was to assess Extension had participants’ Using pretest/posttest research design control group, researchers found that only slight changes were occurring However, staff member open-ended responses reviewed qualitatively, it more within program than uncovered by quantitative instrument. Recommendations for enhancing school-based result findings included teaching participants prepare eat vegetables they produced garden, instruction physical activity, including journaling nutritional values fruits develop health.