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Growing Health: Community, School and Home Gardens. Growing Health. Garden activities positively impact health of participants, observers and communities. Gardeners and those who hang out in gardens tend to eat more fruits and vegetables, but…. Did you know?.
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Growing Health • Garden activities positively impact health of participants, observers and communities. • Gardeners and those who hang out in gardens tend to eat more fruits and vegetables, but…..
Did you know? • 4 surprising benefits of gardening: Improved Life Satisfaction • University of Texas and Texas A&M study of 298 older adults. Gardeners ranked significantly higher in “zest for life” – optimism, overall resolution and fortitude.
Did you know? • 4 surprising benefits of gardening: Lower risk of osteoporosis • University of Arkansas study of 3,310 older women found that those engaged in gardening activities had lower rates of osteoporosis than the joggers, swimmers and participants of aerobics.
Did you know? • 4 surprising benefits of gardening: Lower risk of diabetes • Obvious contributor: fresh produce • Not so obvious: physical activity. Research from University of Kansas indicates that active gardeners get more than the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week and casual gardeners get just slightly less. • Areas where community and home gardens are common have lower incidence of diabetes.
Did you know? • 4 surprising benefits of gardening: Better Sleep • Mental health benefits of gardening are so strong that a medical field called “horticultural therapy” has been developed to help with psychiatric disorders. • Reduces agitation in people with anxiety and dementia • Reduces stress in anyone…less stress = better sleep!
Community Gardens • Began turn of 20th century • Renaissance during the world wars in response to food shortages
Tiger Mountain Gardens www.tigermountainfoundation.org Regular volunteer days 2 x per month. All garden days include physical activity, nutrition and gardening education, musical entertainment, food and opportunity for social interaction for all ages.
School Gardens Multiple studies – Nutrition Education paired with Garden activities had more of an impact on healthful behavior than nutrition Interventions alone.
School Gardens • Promote healthy eating • Improve test scores • Connect children to the environment • Extend the learning environment
School Gardens Arizona Department of Health Services Guidelines for School Gardens For schools that want to grow produce in a garden on school grounds and serve to students, parents, teachers or guests.
Resources for Gardening Information • Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona • Learn to Grow Your Own Food Classes • Urban Farm • Demonstration Gardens
Resources for Gardening Information • Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, Urban Horticulture • Resources for community gardens • Seed and Organic Matter Sources • Planting guides • Technical expertise
Fun and beautiful resource • Created for NYC schools, but contains great lesson plans, how-to’s, pictures and videos http://growtolearn.org
Information, Resources and Questions Allison Parisi - Giles Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Manager 602-542-0389 allison.giles@azdhs.gov