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Gardening for Health: Patterns of Gardening and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among the Navajo

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Abstract

American Indians, including Navajo, are disproportionately affected by obesity and diabetes, in part due to diet-related health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the patterns of gardening and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among residents in two communities on the Navajo Nation in order to inform a community gardening intervention. We analyzed survey data collected from participants in the Yéego Gardening study conducted in two communities in the Navajo Nation (N = 169). We found that 51% of the sample gardened, and on average participants gardened 8.9 times per month. Lack of time (53%) and financial barriers, such as gas for transportation or irrigation (51 and 49%, respectively), were reported as barriers to gardening. Most participants reported low levels of self-efficacy (80%) and behavioral capability (82%) related to gardening. Those with higher levels of gardening self-efficacy and behavioral capability reported more frequent gardening. Average daily FV consumption was 2.5 servings. Most participants reported high levels of self-efficacy to eat FV daily (64%) and high behavioral capability to prepare FV (66%). There was a positive association between FV consumption and gardening, with those gardening more than 4 times per month eating about 1 more serving of FV per day than those gardening 4 or fewer times per month. Further research is needed to better understand how gardening can increase fruit and vegetable availability and consumption among residents of the Navajo Nation.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute (U54 CA132381).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Services, University of Washington, Box 359455, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    India J. Ornelas

  2. Cancer Prevention, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, USA

    India J. Ornelas, Sonia K. Bishop & Shirley A. A. Beresford

  3. Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

    Katie Osterbauer & Lisa Woo

  4. New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center, Farmington, USA

    Desiree Deschenie & Kevin Lombard

  5. Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

    Shirley A. A. Beresford

  6. Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA

    Kevin Lombard

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  1. India J. Ornelas
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Correspondence to India J. Ornelas.

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There is no conflict of interest for any of the authors.

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The study has been reviewed and approved by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Navajo Nation Institutional Review Boards.

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Ornelas, I.J., Osterbauer, K., Woo, L. et al. Gardening for Health: Patterns of Gardening and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among the Navajo. J Community Health 43, 1053–1060 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-0521-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-0521-1

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