The Community Garden Health Block

The goals of this community-based clinical trial are to examine the association between community garden participation and 1) fruit and vegetable intake (primary outcome) and 2) access to healthy food (secondary outcome) among adults aged 18-85 living in low resource and African American communities. Gardens will be randomized to the intervention (n=3 gardens) or control group (delayed intervention, n=3 gardens). Participants will be assigned to one of six community gardens to receive an 8-week intervention. During the intervention, participants will be asked to volunteer in the garden, participate in garden social activities, participate in healthy cooking demonstrations and educational sessions. Participants will receive educational materials as well. To assess the effects of the intervention, participants will receive a baseline, 8-week, and 6-month survey. Outcome measures will be compared between the intervention and control groups.

Food insecurity is a major cause of chronic diseases and is highest in the nation in Arkansas. Evidence shows that community gardens and healthy cooking demonstration can reduce food insecurity by 1) increasing access to healthy foods and 2) promoting healthy food consumption. Community garden participation is one factor that can influence healthy food consumption such as fruit and vegetable intake. The goals of this community-based clinical trial are to examine the association between community garden participation and 1) fruit and vegetable intake (primary outcome) and 2) access to healthy food (secondary outcome) among adults aged 18-85 living in low resource and African American communities. Participants will be assigned to one of six community gardens to receive an 8-week intervention. During the intervention participants will be asked to volunteer in the garden, participate in garden social activities, participate in healthy cooking demonstrations and educational sessions. Participants will receive educational materials as well. Three of the gardens will be randomized to the intervention group and three to the delayed intervention group. To assess the effects of the intervention, participants will receive a baseline, 8-week, and 6-month survey. Other measures that we will examine include food security; sociodemographics; physical activity; life satisfaction; perceived stress; neighborhood collective efficacy; self-efficacy; individual level social determinants of health; community engagement; and knowledge, attitudes, and satisfaction related to gardening and cooking.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Arkansas resident aged 18-85;
2. live in community within 1 mile radius of a participating garden;
3. speak English;
4. willingness to participate in the garden as a volunteer during the study intervention period;
5. not previously participated in the garden as a volunteer;
6. participate in 1 of 3 federally qualified programs ( Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), National School program, Women, Infant and Children (WIC) OR has household income less than $25,000 per year;
7. scores as food insecure on 1 of any of the food security measures (i.e. food did not last, could not eat balanced meal, cut the size or skip meals and frequency at which this happens, eat less than you think you should, were hungry but did not eat);
8. written informed consent;
9. working phone, home address, and email;
10. willingness to complete all survey assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Does not live within 1 mile radius of a participating garden.