Research Database

This searchable database is a collection of research articles that demonstrate the value and effectiveness of Garden-Based Learning. Research articles listed were collected and categorized via the work of the CSGN Research Working Group and the Cornell Garden-Based Learning Program (http://blogs.cornell.edu/garden/).

"Review and Analysis of the Benefits, Purposes, and Motivations Associated with Community Gardening in the United States."

"Journal of Community Practice, 18(4), 458-492." By Draper, "C. & Freedman, D." 2010
"Community gardens have been a part of modern American culture since the late 19th century. Participation in community gardening has ebbed and flowed in response to changing socioeconomic conditions, and thus the current economic recession has reheightened public interest. In a review of the scholarly literature from 1999 to 2010, rigorous quantitative research studies on the effects of community gardens are found to be sparse; however, a larger body of qualitative data is available.

Growing Youth Growing Food: How Vegetable Gardening Influences Young People's Food Consciousness and Eating Habits

"Applied Environmental Education & Communication 6:87–95, 2007" By Libman, Kimberly 2007
"Much attention is currently being paid to rising rates of obesity, especially among youth. In this context, garden-based education can have a role in improving public health. A qualitative study conducted at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) Children's Garden provides supporting evidence for the claim that growing vegetables can improve the nutrition behavior of young gardeners. It finds that positive social interaction during gardening, harvesting, sharing, preparing, and eating produce may influence young people's food consciousness and eating habits.

Impact of Garden-Based Youth Nutrition Intervention Programs: A Review

"MPH Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Volume 109, Issue 2, Pages 273-280 " By Robinson-O'Brien, "Ramona PhD, RD, Mary Story PhD, RD, and Stephanie Heim" 2009 February
"Garden-based nutrition-education programs for youth are gaining in popularity and are viewed by many as a promising strategy for increasing preferences and improving dietary intake of fruitss and vegetables. This review examines the scientific literature on garden- based youth nutrition intervention programs and the impact on nutrition-related outcomes. Studies published between 1990 and 2007 were identified through a library search of databases and an examination of reference lists of relevant publications.

"School Gardens: An Experiential Learning Approach for a Nutrition Education Program to Increase fruits and Vegetable Knowledge, Preference, and Consumption among Second-grade Students."

"Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior; Vol. 41 Issue 3, p212-217" By Parmer, "Sondra M., et al." 2009 May/Jun
"Objective: To examine the effects of a school garden on children's fruits and vegetable knowledge, preference, and consumption. Design: Self-report questionnaires, interview-style taste and rate items, lunchroom observations. Setting: An elementary school. Participants: Second-grade students.

"Changing Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior in Relation to Food: An Evaluation of the School Lunch Initiative"

By Rauzon, "Suzanne, May Wang, Natalie Studer, Pat Crawford" 2010 September
"The School Lunch Initiative is a comprehensive effort to integrate cooking and gardening education into the academic school day in Berkeley elementary and middle schools while revamping the school meal offerings and dining environment. The School Lunch Initiative is effective in increasing student nutrition knowledge, as well as preference for and consumption of healthy foods, particularly fruitss and vegetables among elementary school students. Students’ attitudes about the taste and health value of school lunch improved as the changes were put into place.

The Effects of School Gardens on Students and Schools: Conceptualization and Considerations for Maximizing Healthy Development

"Health Education & Behavior, Vol. 34, No. 6, 846-863 " By Ozer, Emily J. 2007
"There are thousands of school gardens in the United States, and there is anecdotal evidence that school garden programs can enhance students' learning in academic, social, and health-related domains. There has been little rigorous research, however, on the effects of school gardens or on the factors that promote the sustainability of these programs.

"When the Bough Breaks: Our children, our environment"

Earthscan Publications By Timberlake, Lloyd and Laura Thomas 1990

"Eden in a vacant lot: Special places, species and kids in community of life."

"Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural and Evolutionary Investigations. Kahn, P.H. and Kellert, S.R., eds." By Pyle, Robert 2002
More Research

Garden-Based Learning Research Summaries

The CSGN Research Committee along with the UC Garden-Based Learning Workgroup has created research summaries that highlight the value of garden-based education programs. These were created to give promoters of school gardens data to share on the impact of garden-based learning.

More benefits of Garden-Based Learning are documented on Cornell's Garden-Based Learning site.

Garden-Based Learning Assessment Tools

For resources on assessing garden-based education programs try the following sites:

Garden-Based Learning Evaluators Tool Kit

Easy to use guidance, aimed at the educator with minimum experience with evaluation, for purposes of program improvement and documentation.

Farm to School & School Garden Research Consortium

A social network that coordinates research and evaluation efforts to strengthen farm to school and garden-based education programs, practices and policies