Harvest for Health: Home Vegetable Gardening Intervention among Older Cancer Survivors
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Lucy Edwards
Chilton County Coordinator
United States
Clanton
Abstract
The purpose of Harvest for Health was to evaluate how vegetable gardening affects several aspects of an older cancer survivor’s life – physically and nutritionally. We accomplished this task through an at-home gardening intervention program in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital (UAB Medicine). Participation was limited to cancer survivors who had never gardened but had a location at home for a garden. To achieve our goal, we paired each cancer survivor with an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer. These Master Gardeners served as a liaison and gardening mentor, coaching the survivor through a year of gardening. Participants in the program received either a 4’ by 8’ raised bed or 4 garden boxes (equivalent in square footage), supplies needed to grow a successful garden and a resource binder filled with garden-related Extension publications. This two-year intervention was divided into an analysis year where UAB Medicine would conduct examination, through medical tests and self-assessment, of survivor’s pre-gardening behavior and an “intervention” year of active gardening. Each intervention began with a gardening kick-off for the participants to meet their Master Gardener mentor and receive training from the local Extension agent on raised bed vegetable gardening. Overall, we had 91-percent completion, reaching individuals in 29 of Alabama’s 67 counties. Results indicated 92-percent of participants would “most definitely” continue gardening in the future. A year later, about 85% of survivors say they have continued their new habits, and their test results confirm it. Nutritional impact showed an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption by approximately 1 serving/day within the intervention group versus the control. Physical function improved for 70% of the survivors during their 12-month intervention period. In summary, these studies received a 100% satisfaction rating from participants; the home vegetable gardening intervention among older cancer survivors was feasible and led to improvements in vegetable consumption as well as emotional well-being.
Authors: Bethany O'Rear, Lucy Edwards
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Bethany O'Rear Regional Extension Agent - Home Horticulture, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama, 35223
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Lucy Edwards Regional Extension Agent - Home Horticulture, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama, 35570