RESEARCH

Health Benefits of Food Gardening – More Expansive than Improved Nutrition

Food gardening provides wide-ranging health benefits, impacting physical, emotional, social, and community well-being, and has seen a resurgence in popularity. The health benefits related to social interactions and community strengthening through food gardening positively impact several health domains.
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Summary

This article from the Florida Horticulture for Health Network discusses the health benefits of food gardening and highlights various activities and programs related to horticulture and health. It covers a range of topics, including the expansion of these benefits beyond nutrition, the resurgence of victory gardens, seed exchange activity ideas, and programs utilizing horticulture for therapy and rehabilitation.

Food gardening offers multifaceted health benefits beyond just improved nutrition. These benefits include improved physical movement, enhanced mental and emotional health, promotion of social interactions, expansion of cultural ties, strengthening of community health and food security, and fostering of healing and transformation. The resurgence of victory gardens, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the growing interest in self-sustaining food production and the social and psychological benefits of gardening.

Link

Perez Lugones, D. (2022). Exploring home gardener needs with citizen science. Cultivate, 2(3), 14-15

 

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