Hawai’i evaluates school gardens as an approach to curb childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is a significant problem in the United States, and school gardens have increased in popularity as part of the solution. The article, “Perceptions of Middle School Educators in Hawai‘i about School-based Gardening and Child Health,” by AT Ahmed et al., (2011) evaluates the perceived benefits that educators in Hawai’i have of school gardens. The interviews completed with these educators reveal the valuable nature of
school gardens to educate through experiential learning and promote healthy lifestyles. With that, the conversation around health needs to remain culturally appropriate as well as accessible to all socioeconomic classes.

Read the article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3158450/pdf/hmj7007_suppl1_0011.pdf

Share with us in the comments section below! What are your thoughts about and experiences with school gardening programs? What sort of evaluations are being completed to judge their efficacy?

Therapeutic gardens and the elderly

The review article, “What Is the Evidence to Support the Use of Therapeutic Gardens
for the Elderly?” by MB Detweiler et al. (2012), takes a comprehensive view of the
use of therapeutic gardens for the various ailments of our aging populations. This
article goes through the history of horticultural therapy and outlines the many documented physical and psychological benefits gardens can have on the elderly. MB Detweiler et al., takes the time to hone in on dementia patients and the therapeutic benefits wander gardens have for such patients, including a reduction in
anti-psychotic medications. The article concludes with a need for further quantitative studies to investigate gardens as a therapy for our aging populations.

Read the paper here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3372556/pdf/pi-9-100.pdf

What research are you seeing regarding gardens and the elderly? Where do you see a need for research in this area? Share your thoughts and experiences related to therapeutic gardens and elderly care in the comments below!

Relating gardening and aesthetics for healthier communities

The article, “Connecting food environments and health through the relational nature of aesthetics: Gaining insight through the community gardening experience”, by J Hale et al. (2011), connects the idea of environmental aesthetics to how people interact with community gardens on every physical, social, and psychological level. This study used a qualitative approach to explore the aesthetic-health dimensions of community gardens in Denver, Colorado. The interviews with gardeners tell a thoughtful story of how they interact with their community garden spaces and what this means for their emotional, physical, social, and cultural health. Overall, this study works to promote community gardening as an activity that engages people in a way that will improve their overall well-being.

Read the article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114166/pdf/nihms294307.pdf

What are some of your thoughts about community gardens as it relates to human health? What are some new ideas you are working with related to gardening in public spaces? Share them with us in the comments section below!