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/).

"Children and Nature: Psychological, Sociocultural and Evolutionary Investigations."

By Kahn, "P. H. and S. R. Kellert, eds." 2002
Contains many articles on the subject identified in the title of this anthology.

Planning a garden from a child's perspective.

"Children's environment, 12 (2), 250-255." By Whiren, A.P. 1995

Interaction with nature during the middle years: It’s importance in children’s development and nature’s future.

By White, Randy 2005
"This is an article focusing on children’s interaction with nature, not exclusively during the middle years. Numerous references."

Horticultural activities and demographic factors influence children's self-esteem.

"Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 3: 39-54" By Williams, P.N. & R.H. Mattson 1988
Children who participated in a summer community garden program displayed an increase in horticultural knowledge.

Stalking the elusive cognitive map: The development of children’s representations of geographic space.

Children and the Environment. By Altman, "Irwin and Joachim F. Wohlwill, ed." 1978

The ecology of imagination in childhood.

"Daedalus, 88 (3): 537-548" By Cobb, Edith 1959

"The effect of school gardens of interpersonal relationships, attitude toward school, and environmental attitude in populations of children."

By Waliczek, T.M. 1997
This study found that implemented school garden curriculum improved interpersonal skills and environmental attitudes.

Community gardens: lessons learned from California healthy cities and communities

Am Journal of Public Health 93:1433-1438 By Twiss, J. et al. 2003
"This report discusses some of the results and lessons learned from the California Healthy Cities program, which established community gardens to improve community nutrition and physical activity, and to promote food security."

The effect of school gardens on children's interpersonal relationships and attitudes toward school

HortTechnology 11(3): 466-468 By Waliczek, T.M. et al 2001
"The objectives of this research study were to evaluate whether children participating in garden activities benefited by an improved interpersonal relationships and attitudes towards schools. No significant differences were found between pre- and posttests and the control and experimental group. However, when broken down into demographic comparisons, female participants had significantly more positive attitudes toward school compared to males."""

School Gardening: Improving environmental attitudes of children through hands-on learning

Journal Environmental Horticulture 17 (4): 180-184 By Waliczek, T.M. and T.M.Zajicek 1999
"Elementary school and junior high school students gained significantly more positive attitudes about environmental issues after participating in a Project GREEN, a school garden program that was integrated into the curriculum of schools in Texas and Kansas."
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