Understanding Garden Resource Use by Low-Income Families with Children

Home gardens are an important supplemental source of food for many families and provide multiple health benefits. However, the practice of gardening may be more challenging for low-income families with limited access to gardening resources. The University of Minnesota Extension offers gardening resources, but it is unclear how these resources are used by low-income families with children. Aim 1 of the project was to understand access to and use of Extension and other vegetable gardening resources by low-income families with children. Aim 2 of the project was to develop a set of recommendations for improving access to existing resources and to further develop resources desired by low-income families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eligible individuals regarding their interest and experiences with home gardening. Five major themes were identified, ranging from a need for baseline support in gardening to how environmental concerns motivated families to garden. Themes identified from the analysis informed recommendations for making gardening resources more applicable and accessible to low-income families. The recommendations are intended to be used to develop gardening interventions that will ultimately improve health outcomes for low-income families and increase the number of people who experience the benefits of gardening.