GardenABCs
School & Youth Garden Research
We know youth and school gardens accomplish great things, but sometimes others need extra convincing. Share these studies with school administrators, community leaders and anyone who needs hard data on gardens influence nutrition, science, math and environmental education. You also may want to see
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Just like a garden, our community is GROWING! Learn how to become an official partner, advertiser, and more! Contact us.
Garden Program Reduces Youth Obesity
Santa Barbara, Calif., June 22, 2010 ~ Last year, 500 children at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Barbara, Calif., participated in the 10-week Eastside Wellness Program developed by the The Diabetes Resource Center. Students received nutrition education, participated in physical fitness activities, and helped maintain 10 raised-bed gardens based on Junior Master Gardener curriculum from Texas A&M University.
Among particpants, obesity decreased from 30 percent to 25 percent in one year, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined decreased from 55 percent to 42 percent. Among girls, obesity decreased from 26 percent to 19 percent, and obesity and overweight combined dropped from 48 percent to 38 percent.
A Healthy Nutrition Environment: Linking Education, Activity, and Food through School Gardens California Department of Education
An overview of the school garden program including its impact on children's health, nutrition, and academic achievement.
American Community Gardening Association The Case for a Community Greening Research Agenda 2009
Brings together some of the most accomplished researchers in the field to share their newest thoughts and insights. Features include interviews with Mark Francis, Kenneth Helphand and Frances Kuo. There's also a survey of abstracts of some of the most seminal research happening in the field, and an article by Marianne Krasny about kids and gardening.
American Community Gardening Assocation
Reports on property values, crime reduction, pilot study, public policy, citizenship
Assessing a Garden-based Curriculum for Elementary Youth in Iowa: Parental Perceptions of Change
Iowa State University Study
California School Garden Network
Research and Policy Supporting Garden-based Learning
Effect of the National Wildlife Federation's Schoolyard Habitat Program on Fourth Grade Students' Standardized Test Scores
Cornell University, Texas A&M University, Texas State University Study
Evaluation of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation Program
Deakin University and University of Melbourne Joint Research Study, Australia
Growing Environmental Stewards: The Overall Effect of a School Gardening Program
2008 Texas A&M University Study
Growing Minds: The Effect of a School Gardening Program on the Science Achievement of Elementary Students
2005 National Gardening Assn & Texas State University Study
Kidsgardening.org Grant Evaluation Summary
Data on the impact of grants programs
Neighborhood Greenness and 2-Year Changes in Body Mass Index of Children and Youth
University of Washington, Indiana and Purdue Universities
School Gardens Grow Science Achievement Scores
National Science Teachers Assocation article
The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America
The National Gardening Association surveyed 2,559 households nationwide on their awareness of and interest in providing gardening activities to children at school. Nineteen percent were aware of gardening activities for students at their local school. That contrasts with a majority of households (55 percent) that said gardening activities should be implemented whenever possible (35 percent), or should be implemented in every school (20 percent). See pages 15 and 16 more more insights.
Santa Barbara, Calif., June 22, 2010 ~ Last year, 500 children at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Barbara, Calif., participated in the 10-week Eastside Wellness Program developed by the The Diabetes Resource Center. Students received nutrition education, participated in physical fitness activities, and helped maintain 10 raised-bed gardens based on Junior Master Gardener curriculum from Texas A&M University.
Among particpants, obesity decreased from 30 percent to 25 percent in one year, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined decreased from 55 percent to 42 percent. Among girls, obesity decreased from 26 percent to 19 percent, and obesity and overweight combined dropped from 48 percent to 38 percent.
A Healthy Nutrition Environment: Linking Education, Activity, and Food through School Gardens California Department of Education
An overview of the school garden program including its impact on children's health, nutrition, and academic achievement.
American Community Gardening Association The Case for a Community Greening Research Agenda 2009
Brings together some of the most accomplished researchers in the field to share their newest thoughts and insights. Features include interviews with Mark Francis, Kenneth Helphand and Frances Kuo. There's also a survey of abstracts of some of the most seminal research happening in the field, and an article by Marianne Krasny about kids and gardening.
American Community Gardening Assocation
Reports on property values, crime reduction, pilot study, public policy, citizenship
Assessing a Garden-based Curriculum for Elementary Youth in Iowa: Parental Perceptions of Change
Iowa State University Study
California School Garden Network
Research and Policy Supporting Garden-based Learning
Effect of the National Wildlife Federation's Schoolyard Habitat Program on Fourth Grade Students' Standardized Test Scores
Cornell University, Texas A&M University, Texas State University Study
Evaluation of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation Program
Deakin University and University of Melbourne Joint Research Study, Australia
Growing Environmental Stewards: The Overall Effect of a School Gardening Program
2008 Texas A&M University Study
Growing Minds: The Effect of a School Gardening Program on the Science Achievement of Elementary Students
2005 National Gardening Assn & Texas State University Study
Kidsgardening.org Grant Evaluation Summary
Data on the impact of grants programs
Neighborhood Greenness and 2-Year Changes in Body Mass Index of Children and Youth
University of Washington, Indiana and Purdue Universities
School Gardens Grow Science Achievement Scores
National Science Teachers Assocation article
The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America
The National Gardening Association surveyed 2,559 households nationwide on their awareness of and interest in providing gardening activities to children at school. Nineteen percent were aware of gardening activities for students at their local school. That contrasts with a majority of households (55 percent) that said gardening activities should be implemented whenever possible (35 percent), or should be implemented in every school (20 percent). See pages 15 and 16 more more insights.
School Garden History
Library of Congress Webcast and Transcript
Constance Carter, Head of the Science Reference Section
