Transcript Slide 1

Growing Health:
Community, School and Home
Gardens
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
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…..
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
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.
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
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.
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
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.
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
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!
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
Community Gardens
• Began turn of 20th
century
• Renaissance during
the world wars in
response to food
shortages
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
Community Gardens
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
Tiger Mountain Foundation
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
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.
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
School Gardens
Multiple studies –
Nutrition Education paired with
Garden activities had more of
an impact on healthful
behavior than nutrition
Interventions alone.
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
School Gardens
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Promote healthy eating
Improve test scores
Connect children to the environment
Extend the learning environment
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
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.
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
SNAP Gardens
Resources for Gardening
Information
• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
– Learn to Grow Your Own Food Classes
– Urban Farm
– Demonstration Gardens
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
Resources for Gardening
Information
• Maricopa County Cooperative Extension,
Urban Horticulture
– Resources for community gardens
– Seed and Organic Matter Sources
– Planting guides
– Technical expertise
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
Fun and beautiful resource
• Created for NYC schools, but contains great
lesson plans, how-to’s, pictures and videos
http://growtolearn.org
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
Information, Resources and
Questions
Allison Parisi - Giles
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Manager
602-542-0389
[email protected]
Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans