Field Notes:^* Evaluation of the impacts of a community garden program for veterans on food security and indicators of healthy diets.

ABSTRACT

Community gardens have the potential to positively impact the quality of life for veterans in the process of reintegrating into the community. This Field Note will describe the implementation of a community garden program for veterans enrolled in mental health programs at a Veterans’ Administration Hospital in Tampa, Florida. The goal of this project was to evaluate a wide range of veteran outcomes, including food security and nutrition. Evidence suggests such community garden programs can provide a safe space for veterans while also positively impacting veteran food security and fruit and vegetable intake.

KEYWORDS:

• Gardening
• mental health
• food insecurity
• nutrition

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the work and support of Georgea Snyder at the Sustainable Living Project. We also extend thanks to our colleagues Kiersten Downs, PhD, Lisa Snyder, LCSW, CAP, Saori Murphy, Kaleigh Hoyt, MA, Rachel Brink, LCSW, BCD, CPRP, Ryan Nitzsche, CTRS, and staff at the Psychosocial Rehabilitation & Recovery Center and Domiciliary at the James A. Haley VA Hospital and Clinics.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the VA Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation and the HSR&D Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR) at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and Clinics, Tampa, FL.