Perceived Impacts of Extension Gardens on Visitor Heath
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Jamielyn Hagyari
Florida-Friendly Landscaping/Urban Forestry
UF/IFAS Extension
The Villages
Abstract
Approximately 21% of Florida adults are limited in their daily activities due to physical, mental, or emotional limitations (BRFSS, 2016). 25.4% are sedentary (BRFSS, 2023) and 19.7% reported overall health to be fair or poor (BRFSS, 2019).
Interacting with nature has been shown to promote many health benefits such as improved cognitive function, social connectedness, physical and mental health. From community gardens to social connectedness, Cooperative Extension is uniquely positioned to address these health concerns by providing access to community and demonstration gardens.
The purpose of this project was to collect information on the perceived health benefits of participants after participating in a garden tour.
The priority population was residential visitors to the Discovery Gardens in Taveres, Florida.
In 2023, Extension garden tours were held one-two days a week for eight months. Tours were delivered in three formats: 1) docent led 2) audio, 3) self-guided signage tours. Participants toured a 3.5-acre garden with over 20 themed gardens. At the end of the tour, each participant was asked to complete a post-tour survey. Data collection occurred between January-April and August-December. Form January -April data was collected from 9am-1pm January-April and in August-December from 1pm-4pm. Surveys were non-randomized and available both digitally and in paper form.
Thirty-eight tours were offered with 145posttour survey participants. Of these 83 participated in the docent tour, 37 in the audio tour and 25 in the signage tour. 65% of respondents reported improved mental health; 67% increased physical activity; 65%. improved social connectedness; 42% reported increased energy; 75% increased their sense of well-being; 54% reported an improved outlook on life.
Extension gardens and tours can provide nature-based interventions to promote health benefits, well-being, and quality of life.
Authors: Jamielyn Hagyari, Wendy Wood
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Jamielyn Hagyari Florida-Friendly Landscaping/Urban Forestry, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Florida, 32162
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Wendy Wood State Specialized Agent, Extension Agent IV, Family and Consumer Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension , Florida, 32092