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/).

"A dietary, social and economic evaluation of the Philadelphia urban gardening project"

"Journal of Nutrition Education 23(4), 161-167" By Blair, Dorothy et al. 1991
"Study evaluates nutritional, social and economic contributions of Philadelphia Urban Gardening Project. Gardeners consumed significantly more of six vegetable categories than non-gardeners. 62% of gardeners preserved foods from their gardens. Gardening was found to be positively associated with community involvement and positive life satisfaction."

Themes of discovery.

"Educational Leadership, 58: 10-14." By Bergstrom, Joam M. and Lisa A. O’Brien 2001 April
"This reports on after-schools that are organized around a theme, nature, gardening and cooking being a few examples. Students become active participants and independent learners when real-life activities are organized around a theme."

Master gardener classroom garden project: An evaluation of the benefits to children.

"Children's environment 12 (2), 256-263." By Alexander, "J., M. North & D. Hendren" 1995
"This study evaluates the benefits of participation in a Master Gardener Classroom Garden Project, which offered experiential learning about horticulture, gardening, and social relationships. Qualitative interviews of 52 second and third grade students indicated that participation had many positive effects, particularly in the area of moral development, pleasure and interactions with parents and peers."

School-based community gardens: Re-establishing healthy relationships with food.

"Paper presented at National Conference of Home Economics Institute of Australia, Hobart, Tasmania""" By Somerset, Shawn 2005 Jan
"Primarily qualitative study that shows that “school-based community gardens represent a significant opportunity to embed nutrition, physical activity and environmental sustainability into mainstream curricula.” Discussion of results includes several dimensions of learning and social development. "

Health and Human Behavior

Health and Human Behavior By Sallis, James 1993
"Sallis is associated with Active Living Research, Research on obesity and other related issues; ""building the evidence base""."

A comparison of a gardening and nutrition program with a standard nutrition program in an Out-of-school setting.

"HortTechnology, 15 (3) 463-467" By Poston, "Suzanne, C.A. Shoemaker and D. Dzewaltowski" 2005
"This study compared a standard nutrition program with a garden and nutrition program in an after-summer school program (3rd through 5th graders). The results showed no improvement in nutrition knowledge nor fruits and vegetable preference or consumption. However, the ""gardening self-efficacy"" dimension improved for the garden group. Further research is needed."

First grade gardeners more likely to taste vegetables

California Agriculture 55(1) 43-46 By Morris, "Jennifer, M Briggs, S Zidenberg-Cherr" 2001
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the practicability of implementing an experiential garden-based educational program to first graders while improving their nutritional knowledge. The goal of the study was to also evaluate the impact of this educational garden-based program to determine the enhancement of elementary school children’s dietary patterns. Findings supported an increase in these children’s willingness to taste the vegetables grown in their garden.

Garden-based nutrition education affects fruits and vegetable consumption in sixth-grade adolescent

"American Dietetic Association 107(4), April 2007, 662-664""" By McAleese, Jessica & Linda Rankin 2007
"The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of garden-based nutrition education on adolescent' fruits and vegetable consumption using a nonequivalent control group decision. Results showed increased consumption by students in the garden-based learning-nutrition program, which suggests that nutrition education combined with garden based learning is more effective than either alone in changing fruits and vegetable intake by students."

"Prevalence of Obesity and Healthy Weight in CA Counties, 2001"

"CA Dept of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics. County Health Facts No. 04-05""" By Lund, Laura et al. 2004 June

The effect of school gardens on children's attitudes and related behaviors regarding fruitss and vegetables.

Unpublished thesis: Texas A&M University By Lineberger, Sarah E. 1999
This study found that school gardening and nutrition curriculum improved students' attitude towards fruits and vegetable snacks.
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