Association between garden work and risk of incident dementia in an older population in China: a national cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence on the association between garden work and risk of incident dementia in the older Chinese population is limited. This study aimed to explore the association between the frequency of garden work and risk of incident dementia in an older population in China. STUDY DESIGN: This was a national cohort study. METHODS: This study analysed data from 8676 participants (median age: 86 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between the frequency of garden work and risk of incident dementia using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multiplicative and additive interaction effects were calculated between the frequency of garden work and age, sex or residence on incident dementia; subgroup analyses of the association were also conducted by age, sex and residence. In addition, sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. RESULTS: During 4.31 years (median) of follow-up, 633 participants developed dementia. Compared with participants who did not engage in garden work, the adjusted risk of incident dementia for those who regularly or almost daily engaged in garden work decreased by 28% (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57-0.93). An additive interaction effect between frequency of garden work and age on incident dementia was observed, with subgroup analyses demonstrating similar statistically significant associations among participants aged ≥85 years, women and city or town residents. Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the primary analysis in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent engagement in garden work may be associated with a reduced risk of dementia and may be an effective measure to prevent incident dementia in the older population in China.

Social-ecological filters drive the functional diversity of beetles in homegardens of campesinos and migrants in the southern Andes.

Homegardens are coupled social-ecological systems that act as biodiversity reservoirs while contributing to local food sovereignty. These systems are characterized by their structural complexity, while involving management practices according to gardener's cultural origin. Social-ecological processes in homegardens may act as filters of species' functional traits, and thus influence the species richness-functional diversity relationship of critical agroecosystem components like beetles (Coleoptera). We tested the species richness-functional diversity relationship of beetle communities and examined whether habitat structure across different levels, sociodemographic profiles, and management practices act as filters in homegardens in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, Chile. For 100 homegardens (50 campesino and 50 migrant), we sampled beetles and habitat attributes, and surveyed gardeners' sociodemographic profiles and management practices. We recorded 85 beetle species and found a positive relationship between species richness and functional richness that saturated when functionally similar species co-occur more often than expected by chance, indicating functional redundancy in species-rich homegardens. Gardener origin (campesino/migrant), homegarden area (m2), structural complexity (index), and pest control strategy (natural, chemical, or none) were the most influential social-ecological filters that selectively remove beetle species according to their functional traits. We discuss opportunities in homegarden management for strengthening local functional diversity and resilience under social-environmental changes.

Associations between physical activity types and reaching the physical activity guidelines: The FinHealth 2017 Study.

Physical activity (PA) guidelines for adults recommend to both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise. We aimed to report prevalence of adults reaching these guidelines and further study associations of types of physical activities with the PA guidelines. In a national FinHealth 2017 Study, adults (18+ years, n = 5335) reported participation in different types of physical activities in summer and winter, in duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic PA, and frequency of muscle-strengthening PA. Logistic regression analysis was used, adjusting for age, education, and self-rated health, stratified into age-groups of 18-64 years and 65+ years by gender. PA guidelines were reached in the age-group of 18-64 years by 42% of men and 39% of women and in the age-group of 65+ years by 26% of men and 20% of women. Walking, cleaning and maintenance work, and stair climbing were the most popular PA types throughout the year. Workout and muscle-strengthening exercises were consistently associated with 3-8 times higher odds for reaching the PA guidelines across age, gender, and season. Other PA types (eg, jogging, swimming, skiing, gardening, or stair climbing) had more varied associations with the PA guidelines across gender, age, and season. Our data suggest that only certain conditioning activity types associate with reaching PA guidelines. Findings indicate that future interventions could more specifically use information on gender and age variation in the PA types, to find solutions for low physical activity in the population.

Estimating food production in an urban landscape.

There is increasing interest in urban food production for reasons of food security, environmental sustainability, social and health benefits. In developed nations urban food growing is largely informal and localised, in gardens, allotments and public spaces, but we know little about the magnitude of this production. Here we couple own-grown crop yield data with garden and allotment areal surveys and urban fruit tree occurrence to provide one of the first estimates for current and potential food production in a UK urban setting. Current production is estimated to be sufficient to supply the urban population with fruit and vegetables for about 30 days per year, while the most optimistic model results suggest that existing land cultivated for food could supply over half of the annual demand. Our findings provide a baseline for current production whilst highlighting the potential for change under the scaling up of cultivation on existing land.

Information on biodiversity and environmental behaviors: A European study of individual and institutional drivers to adopt sustainable gardening practices.

The specific case of home gardening practices is particularly relevant when discussing lifestyle habits and ecological transition, due to the wide range of positive and negative environmental externalities private gardens may generate. However, existing studies usually focus on restricted areas, mostly at a city scale. We provide an original empirical contribution to the literature on individual and institutional drivers regarding ecological transition by exploring the variations of individual behavior between European countries with an appropriate econometric approach. Using a European database (Eurobarometer 83.4), we highlight several interesting results regarding Europeans' adoption of sustainable gardening practices, more particularly on the role of socio-demographic drivers, urban or rural residential location and access to trustworthy biodiversity-related information. In conclusion, we provide recommendations for the design of dedicated public policies, specific to a national or local level of decision.

Home gardens as a predictor of enhanced dietary diversity and food security in rural Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: Home gardens have been found to improve food security and dietary diversity in a wide range of settings. However, there is a need to place home gardens within the larger food and nutrition system landscapes that shape the construction of household diets. Myanmar offers a unique opportunity to study these research questions, given the decades of political isolation, high levels of food insecurity and poor nutrition levels. METHODS: The aim of our paper is to use household survey data from three distinctive agro-ecological settings in rural Myanmar to empirically analyse the role of home gardens in influencing household food insecurity and dietary diversity. Our analysis is based on unique survey data conducted in rural Myanmar. The sample includes 3230 rural households from three States/Districts (Magway, Ayeyarwady and Chin). Using information on two dimensions of food security, a series of variables capturing a household's self-reported food security status and coping strategies when food is not available; and a measure of household's dietary diversity based on 24-h recall data, we empirically estimate a household's probability of being food insecure and the diversity of their diets. RESULTS: There are statistically significant associations between access to home gardens and measures of food security and improved dietary diversity. In particular, for landless households, the ownership of home gardens/ fruits and vines is statistically significant and is associated with a 6.6 percentage points lower probability of a household having to change their diet, and a 7.9 percentage points lower probability of being in hunger. CONCLUSIONS: From a policy perspective, our results show that promoting home gardens among vulnerable households can improve food security and dietary diversity among vulnerable rural households in Myanmar.

Characteristics and Challenges for the Development of Nature-Based Adult Day Services in Urban Areas for People with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers.

Nature-based adult day services (ADSs) for people with dementia (PwD) are well-known in rural areas. In recent years, a number of providers have started offering these services in urban contexts, e.g., in city farms and community gardens, where people with dementia participate in outdoor activities, such as gardening and caring for animals. At the moment, little is known about these services within an urban context, and the aim of this study is to characterize different types of nature-based ADSs in urban areas for PwD living at home, as well as to identify general and specific challenges with regard to the development of different types of ADSs. An inventory was carried out and 17 ADS providers in urban areas were interviewed about their initiatives, settings, client groups, motivations for starting their nature-based ADS, and their experiences with, competences for, and funding of urban nature-based ADS. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Five types of nature-based ADSs were identified: (1) services offered by social entrepreneurs, (2) nursing homes opening their garden to people with dementia, (3) social care organization setting up nature-based, (4) community garden set up by citizens, and (5) hybrid initiatives. Common activities were gardening, preparing meals, and taking care of farm animals. The main activities organized by nursing homes included sitting and walking in the garden and attending presentations and excursions. General challenges included the availability of green urban spaces and acquiring funding for the nature-based services. Initiatives of social entrepreneurs depended strongly on their commitment. Challenges for nursing homes included a lack of commitment among nursing staff, involvement of PwD living at home and a lack of interaction with the neighborhood. Volunteers played a key role in the initiatives organized by social care organizations and in community gardens. However, it was a major challenge to find volunteers who know enough about care and gardening. Specific challenges for the hybrid types were related to differences in work culture between social entrepreneurs and care organizations. Different types of care-oriented and community-oriented nature-based adult day services in urban areas for people with dementia have been developed, facing different types of challenges. Care oriented initiatives like nursing homes opening their garden focus on risk prevention and their nature-based services tended to be less diverse and stimulating for people with dementia living at home. Collaboration between such care-oriented initiatives with initiatives of other types of organizations or social entrepreneurs can lead to more appealing community-oriented nature-based services.

Cooking and Gardening Behaviors and Improvements in Dietary Intake in Hispanic/Latino Youth.

Background: School gardening interventions typically include cooking and gardening (CG) components; however, few studies have examined associations between CG psychosocial behaviors (attitudes, self-efficacy, and motivation), dietary intake, and obesity parameters. This study assessed the association between changes in CG behaviors with changes in dietary intake and obesity in participants of the LA Sprouts study, an after-school, 12-week, randomized controlled CG intervention conducted in four inner-city elementary schools in Los Angeles. Methods: Process analysis using data from 290 low-income, primarily Hispanic/Latino third through fifth-grade students who were randomized to either the LA Sprouts intervention (n = 160) or control group (n = 130). Height, weight, waist circumference, dietary intake via questionnaire, and CG behaviors were collected at baseline and postintervention. Linear regressions determined whether changes in CG behaviors predicted changes in dietary intake and obesity outcomes. Results: There were no differences in changes in CG psychosocial behaviors between intervention and control groups, therefore groups were combined. Participants were 49% male, 87% Hispanic/Latino, and an average age of nine. Increases in cooking behaviors significantly predicted increases in dietary fiber intake (p = 0.004) and increases in vegetable intake (p = 0.03). Increases in gardening behaviors significantly predicted increased intake of dietary fiber (p = 0.02). Changes in CG behaviors were not associated with changes in BMI z-score or waist circumference. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that school-based interventions should incorporate CG components, despite their potentially costly and time-intensive nature, as these behaviors may be responsible for improvements in dietary intake of high-risk minority youth.

Occupational risk factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Southern Europe: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause associated with the histopathologic and/or radiologic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Occupational risk factors have been proposed to be associated with UIP. The aim of this case-control study is to evaluate the relationship between UIP pattern and occupational exposure in Southern Europe. METHODS: Sixty nine cases with a UIP radiological pattern at CT-scan were selected from a clinical database of the University Hospital of Perugia, Umbria, between January 2010 and December 2013. Controls (n = 277) not reporting doctor diagnosed pulmonary fibrosis, were ascertained casually among general population from the same catching area of cases. Data were collected by a questionnaire used previously in a similar study. Logistic regression models, adjusted for gender, age and smoking, were performed to evaluate the association between UIP and occupational exposure. RESULTS: Farmers, veterinarians and gardeners (OR = 2.73, 95%CI = 1.47-5.10), metallurgical and steel industry workers (OR = 4.80, 95%CI = 1.50-15.33) were occupations associated with UIP. Metal dust and fumes and organic dust were risk factors for UIP. Increasing the length of occupational exposure in jobs at risk of pulmonary fibrosis, increased the risk of having UIP. CONCLUSIONS: This case control study confirm partially the results from previous similar studies. Some discrepancies could be explained by the different geographical origins of the population under study, reflecting also different occupational exposures.

Longitudinal Patterns of Physical Activity Among Older Adults: A Latent Transition Analysis.

Most epidemiologic studies of physical activity measure either total energy expenditure or engagement in a single type of activity, such as walking. These approaches may gloss over important nuances in activity patterns. We performed a latent transition analysis to identify patterns of activity, as well as neighborhood and individual determinants of changes in those activity patterns, over 2 years in a cohort of 2,023 older adult residents of New York, New York, surveyed between 2011 and 2013. We identified 7 latent classes: 1) mostly inactive, 2) walking, 3) exercise, 4) household activities and walking, 5) household activities and exercise, 6) gardening and household activities, and 7) gardening, household activities, and exercise. The majority of subjects retained the same activity patterns between waves (54% unchanged between waves 1 and 2, 66% unchanged between waves 2 and 3). Most latent class transitions were between classes distinguished only by 1 form of activity, and only neighborhood unemployment was consistently associated with changing between activity latent classes. Future latent transition analyses of physical activity would benefit from larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods to assess predictors of and long-term impacts of changes in activity patterns.

Different outdoor professions have different risks - a cross-sectional study comparing non-melanoma skin cancer risk among farmers, gardeners and mountain guides.

BACKGROUND: One of the main risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the most common cancer worldwide, is solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). This has led to the recognition of NMSC as occupational disease for outdoor workers in several countries. However, outdoor professions are a very heterogeneous group with diverse daily activities and associated UVR exposure. OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of NMSC and associated risk behaviour in different outdoor professions. METHODS: Cross-sectional study among outdoor workers (farmers, gardeners, mountain guides) and indoor workers (office employees) as control group using a paper-based questionnaire on UVR exposure and protective behaviour followed by a skin examination by a dermatologist. RESULTS: A total of 563 participants (46.9% women, 46.9 ± 13.8 years) consisting of 348 outdoor workers (38.8% farmer, 35.3% gardener, 25.9% mountain guides) and 215 indoor workers were included in the study between March and September 2017. NMSC incl. actinic keratosis was diagnosed in 33.3% of mountain guides, 27.4% of farmers, 19.5% of gardeners and in 5.6% of indoor workers. Significant differences were seen between the outdoor professions with mountain guides at highest risk compared to farmers (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.2-5.7). Substantial differences between the professions were also seen in skin cancer screening attendance rates (indoor worker 61.4%, mountain guides 57.8%, farmers 31.9%, gardeners 27.6%), daily UVR exposure during work and protective behaviour such as sunscreen use during work. CONCLUSION: Different outdoor professions have significant different risks for NMSC and show different risk behaviour. Tailoring prevention efforts to different professions based on their individual needs could be the key to lower the global burden of (occupational) NMSC.

Gardening for Health: Patterns of Gardening and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among the Navajo.

American Indians, including Navajo, are disproportionately affected by obesity and diabetes, in part due to diet-related health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the patterns of gardening and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among residents in two communities on the Navajo Nation in order to inform a community gardening intervention. We analyzed survey data collected from participants in the Yéego Gardening study conducted in two communities in the Navajo Nation (N = 169). We found that 51% of the sample gardened, and on average participants gardened 8.9 times per month. Lack of time (53%) and financial barriers, such as gas for transportation or irrigation (51 and 49%, respectively), were reported as barriers to gardening. Most participants reported low levels of self-efficacy (80%) and behavioral capability (82%) related to gardening. Those with higher levels of gardening self-efficacy and behavioral capability reported more frequent gardening. Average daily FV consumption was 2.5 servings. Most participants reported high levels of self-efficacy to eat FV daily (64%) and high behavioral capability to prepare FV (66%). There was a positive association between FV consumption and gardening, with those gardening more than 4 times per month eating about 1 more serving of FV per day than those gardening 4 or fewer times per month. Further research is needed to better understand how gardening can increase fruit and vegetable availability and consumption among residents of the Navajo Nation.

Lawn mower injuries presenting to the emergency department: 2005 to 2015.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe recent trends in the epidemiology of lawn mower injuries presenting to the Emergency Department in the United States using nationally representative data for all ages. METHODS: Data for this retrospective analysis were obtained from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), for the years 2005-2015. We queried the system using all product codes under "lawn mowers" in the NEISS Coding Manual. We examined body part injured, types of injuries, gender and age distribution, and disposition. RESULTS: There were an estimated 934,394 lawn mower injuries treated in U.S. ED's from 2005 to 2015, with an average of 84,944 injuries annually. The most commonly injured body parts were the hand/finger (22.3%), followed by the lower extremity (16.2%). The most common type of injury was laceration (23.1%), followed by sprain/strain (18.8%). The mean age of individuals injured was 46.5 years, and men were more than three times as likely to be injured as women. Patients presenting to the ED were far more likely to be discharged home after treatment (90.5%) than to be admitted (8.5%). CONCLUSION: Lawn mowers continue to account for a large number of injuries every year in the United States. The incidence of lawn mower injuries showed no decrease during the period of 2005-2015. Preventative measures should take into account the epidemiology of these injuries.

Gardening Experience Is Associated with Increased Fruit and Vegetable Intake among First-Year College Students: A Cross-Sectional Examination.

BACKGROUND: Gardening interventions have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake among school-aged children. It is unknown whether these effects persist into later adolescence or adulthood, and little is known about whether gardening in later adolescence is related to F/V intake. OBJECTIVE: To identify the relationship between both childhood and recent (within the past 12 months) gardening experiences and current F/V intake among college students. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional evaluation of 1,121 college freshmen with suboptimal F/V consumption from eight US universities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants completed the National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable Screener and questions about gardening experiences. Respondents were grouped as having gardened or not gardened during childhood and recently. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: A linear mixed model was used to evaluate the relationship between childhood and recent gardening and current F/V intake. RESULTS: Of the student participants, 11% reported gardening only during childhood, 19% reported gardening only recently, 20% reported gardening both as a child and recently, and 49% of students reported never having gardened. Students who gardened both during childhood and recently had a significantly higher mean current intake of F/V compared with students who never gardened (2.5±0.6 vs 1.9±0.5 cup equivalents [CE], respectively; P<0.001). In addition, F/V intake increased with frequency of recent gardening engagement when comparing students who did not garden with those who gardened monthly or weekly (2.1±0.5 CE, 2.4±0.6 CE, and 2.8±0.7 CE, respectively; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that the combination of childhood and recent gardening experience is associated with greater current F/V intake among first-year college students not currently meeting national F/V recommendations. In addition, a greater frequency of gardening experience may further enhance this effect.

Clinical patterns of Compositae dermatitis in Danish monosensitized patients.

BACKGROUND: Compositae dermatitis was originally described as airborne contact dermatitis. More recent studies have reported a wider clinical spectrum, but often in polysensitized patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical features of patients sensitized to Compositae only. PATIENTS/METHODS: Consecutive Compositae-sensitive eczema patients, tested between 1990 and 2015, who, at the patch testing session diagnosing their Compositae allergy, were found to be sensitized only to the plant family, were included. RESULTS: Altogether, 529 of 13 139 patients tested (4.0%) were sensitized to Compositae, and 95 (18% of these) were monosensitized. The majority had hand eczema, and 39 (44%) had a vesicular volar pattern. Eighty-one patients were classified into one of three groups of similar size: localized eczema, eczema of exposed skin, and localized eczema turning into widespread eczema. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Compositae sensitization is continuously high in consecutive eczema patients. Sensitization may occur at any age. Clinical features in monosensitized patients vary, but, with continuing exposure, the patients may develop more widespread dermatitis similar to classic Compositae dermatitis. Avoidance may clear the exogenous part, but not endogenous aetiological factors such as vesicular hand eczema or possible photosensitivity. Thorough clinical assessment and patient education are important in reducing the impact of Compositae contact allergy.

Agricultural Experiences Are Positively Associated With High School Students' Fruit and Vegetable Perceptions and Consumption.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between high school students' agricultural experiences and their (1) attitudes about consuming local fruits and vegetables, (2) willingness to try new fruits and vegetables, and (3) fruit and vegetable consumption. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey research. SETTING: Public high schools in a lower-income, diverse, urban, northeastern community. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 327 students from 3 public high schools. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Exposures were prior experience helping on a farm or community garden (yes/no) and having a home garden (yes/no). Outcomes were perceptions about local produce consumption (α = .73), willingness to try new fruits (α = .86) and vegetables (α = .86), and adequate fruit and vegetable consumption (yes/no) as measured by a valid 2-item cup screener. ANALYSIS: Independent t tests, 1-way ANOVA, and chi-square tests were used. RESULTS: Half of students (52.9%) reported prior farm experience; 29.7% reported having a garden at home. Few students reported consuming at least 3 cups/d of vegetables (9.8%) or 2 cups/d of fruit (37.0%). Students with prior farm experience had more favorable scores for local produce perceptions (P = .002) and willingness to try new fruits (P = .001) and vegetables (P < .001) than were students without prior experience. Students with a home garden had more favorable scores for local produce perceptions (P = .02) and willingness to try new fruits (P = .001) and vegetables (P = .001) and more often consumed adequate vegetables (P = .007) than did students without a garden. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Those working with high school students might consider offering agriculture experiences that could promote positive fruit and vegetable attitudes and behaviors.

Contextual Correlates of Physical Activity among Older Adults: A Neighborhood Environment-Wide Association Study (NE-WAS).

Background: Few older adults achieve recommended physical activity levels. We conducted a "neighborhood environment-wide association study (NE-WAS)" of neighborhood influences on physical activity among older adults, analogous, in a genetic context, to a genome-wide association study.Methods: Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and sociodemographic data were collected via telephone survey of 3,497 residents of New York City aged 65 to 75 years. Using Geographic Information Systems, we created 337 variables describing each participant's residential neighborhood's built, social, and economic context. We used survey-weighted regression models adjusting for individual-level covariates to test for associations between each neighborhood variable and (i) total PASE score, (ii) gardening activity, (iii) walking, and (iv) housework (as a negative control). We also applied two "Big Data" analytic techniques, LASSO regression, and Random Forests, to algorithmically select neighborhood variables predictive of these four physical activity measures.Results: Of all 337 measures, proportion of residents living in extreme poverty was most strongly associated with total physical activity [-0.85; (95% confidence interval, -1.14 to -0.56) PASE units per 1% increase in proportion of residents living with household incomes less than half the federal poverty line]. Only neighborhood socioeconomic status and disorder measures were associated with total activity and gardening, whereas a broader range of measures was associated with walking. As expected, no neighborhood meaZsures were associated with housework after accounting for multiple comparisons.Conclusions: This systematic approach revealed patterns in the domains of neighborhood measures associated with physical activity.Impact: The NE-WAS approach appears to be a promising exploratory technique. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(4); 495-504. ©2017 AACRSee all the articles in this CEBP Focus section, "Geospatial Approaches to Cancer Control and Population Sciences."

Previous Gardening Experience and Gardening Enjoyment Is Related to Vegetable Preferences and Consumption Among Low-Income Elementary School Children.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if gardening experience and enjoyment are associated with vegetable exposure, preferences, and consumption of vegetables among low-income third-grade children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design, using baseline data from the Texas! Grow! Eat! Go! SETTING: Twenty-eight Title I elementary schools located in different counties in Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Third-grade students (n = 1,326, 42% Hispanic) MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gardening experience, gardening enjoyment, vegetable exposure, preference, and consumption. ANALYSIS: Random-effects regression models, adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, and body mass index percentile of child, estimated means and standard errors of vegetable consumption, exposure, and preference by levels of gardening experience and enjoyment. Wald χ2 tests evaluated the significance of differences in means of outcomes across levels of gardening experience and enjoyment. RESULTS: Children with more gardening experience had greater vegetable exposure and higher vegetable preference and consumed more vegetables compared with children who reported less gardening experience. Those who reported that they enjoyed gardening had the highest levels of vegetable exposure, preference, and consumption. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Garden-based interventions can have an important and positive effect on children's vegetable consumption by increasing exposure to fun gardening experiences.

Shared Opportunities on Institutional Lands: On-Site Food Production, Its Benefits, Barriers, and Opportunities.

AIM: This article outlines preliminary findings of a 3-year project that explored on-site food production on institutional properties, primarily healthcare facilities. BACKGROUND: There are growing pressures on healthcare facilities to improve their food offerings and incorporate food gardens into their health programs. While several healthcare facilities produce food on-site, there are few studies that explore opportunities, capacities, and institutional barriers related to on-site food production. METHODS: The study employed mixed methods including historical review, case studies, surveys, interviews, pilot garden projects, and Geographic Information System mapping. The number of participating institutions varied by method. RESULTS: Benefits associated with on-site food production can be health, economic, environmental, and social. There are also institutional barriers including administrative roadblocks, perceived obstacles, and the difficulty in quantitatively, measuring the qualitatively documented benefits. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of food gardens far outweigh the challenges. On-site food production has tremendous potential to improve nutrition for staff and patients, offer healing spaces, better connect institutions with the communities in which they are located, and provide the long-professed benefits of gardening for all involved-from therapeutic benefits and outdoor physical activities to developing skills and social relationships in ways that few other activities do.

Food Gardeners' Productivity in Laramie, Wyoming: More Than a Hobby.

OBJECTIVES: We quantified the productivity of food gardens in Laramie, Wyoming, over 3 growing seasons. METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, 33 participating gardening households weighed and recorded each harvest. Academic partners measured plot sizes and converted reported harvest weights to volume in cups. RESULTS: The yield of the average 253-square-foot plot was enough to supply an adult with the daily US Department of Agriculture-recommended amount of vegetables for 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Gardeners produced nutritionally meaningful quantities of food; thus, food gardening offers promise as an effective public health intervention for improving food security and nutritional health.