Enriching the Lives of Low Income Youth with Physical Activity and Nutrition Education through Raised Bed Gardening
Abstract:
Behind the Boys and Girls Club building, there are seven raised-bed gardens. These beds are used for teaching underserved children of limited-resource families the art of gardening, broadening and expanding their know-ledge of fruits and vegetables, increasing their awareness of healthy nutritious options, promoting physical activities, and preparing fresh produce. The students will have complete autonomy of the garden. To accomplish this, the students will decide what to grow in the beds and perform all gardening-related tasks. As a result of the program, students' knowledge and awareness of healthy food options and choosing the correct amount of active play increased. The students' aspirations and attitudes toward gardening were positive, and their horticulture knowledge and skills increased.
Description:
Growing up in poverty can significantly affect the health, well-being and development of children and adolescents. Youth living in impoverished neighborhoods are more likely than their peers living in more affluent communities to experience physical and mental health problems, a poor-quality diet, and an unhealthy body weight. Due to rising rates of obesity, especially among youth, much attention is currently being focused to address this epidemic. Programs which incorporate gardening provide opportunities for hands-on food, nutrition and physical activity education for children. In-school gardens improve children's eating habits. One study reported fourth-grade children's preference for some vegetables improved when gardening programs was combined with nutrition education. Another study's results suggest that gardening programs provided opportunities for constructive activities, contributions to the community, relationship and interpersonal skill development, informal social control, exploring cognitive and behavioral competence, and improved nutrition. At the local Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, located in Marietta, Ohio, 62.2 percent of youth are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The Boys and Girls Club purpose is to provide programs and services which promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. To help fulfill this purpose The Boys and Girls Club of Washington County partnered with OSU Extension. As a result, the "Learning Gardens" was implemented to teach students the value and importance of horticulture and nutrition. For students, school or club gardens serve as living classrooms that teach lessons as simple as "where our food comes from" to complex lessons on ecology, resource management, nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Marcus Mccartney, Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University Extension, mccartney.138@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Sara Kroll, SNAP-Ed Program Assistant, The Ohio State University Extension.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Marcus Mccartney, Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University Extension, mccartney.138@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Sara Kroll, SNAP-Ed Program Assistant, The Ohio State University Extension.
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