A Qualitative Study of Rural Low-Wealth Participants’ Experiences with Community Gardens

This qualitative study aims to understand how community garden (CG) participants experience the effects of participation on fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and health behaviors. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with a total of 61 CG managers and participants in the fall of 2017, in CGs located in rural low-wealth communities. Five themes were identified: Community gardens influence FV access and consumption, nutritional and agricultural knowledge improve through CG participation, CGs may serve as a kickstart to other improvements to health and wellbeing, CGs have positive impacts on participants’ mental health, and successful gardens contribute to community cohesion.