Community Gardens: A Catalyst for Community Change.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health
• Obesity Prevention

Background:

• Community gardens offer physical, mental, and social health benefits.
• Research on community gardens is limited in rural settings, especially concerning policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes.
• Rural areas often face challenges with food access and high obesity prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the implementation and impact of community gardens within a rural obesity prevention project (Healthier Together - HT).
• To understand the role of community gardens in addressing food access and promoting health in rural Georgia.
• To identify how community gardens can serve as gateways for broader PSE initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods research design.
• Utilized data from project records, community surveys (n=265), interviews (n=39), and focus groups.
• Study conducted in five rural Georgia counties with high obesity rates and limited food access.

Main Results:

• Nineteen community gardens were established, with 89% distributing produce directly to consumers.
• While few respondents identified gardens as a primary food source, 21.9% reported using an HT garden.
• Interviews and focus groups revealed gardens increased awareness of healthy food availability and spurred interest in future PSE initiatives.

Conclusions:

• Rural community gardens can be effective catalysts for community health improvements and broader PSE strategies.
• Strategic placement and effective marketing are crucial for optimizing produce access and community engagement.
• Community gardens can increase awareness of food access issues and generate momentum for comprehensive health interventions in rural areas.