Southwest Harvest for Health: An Adapted Mentored Vegetable Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors

Cindy K. Blair; Prajakta Adsul; Dolores D. Guest; Andrew L. Sussman; Linda S. Cook; Elizabeth M. Harding; Joseph Rodman; Dorothy Duff; Ellen Burgess; Karen Quezada; Ursa Brown-Glaberman; Towela V. King; Erika Baca; Zoneddy Dayao; Vernon Shane Pankratz; Sally Davis; Wendy Demark-Wahnefried

doi:10.3390/nu13072319

Nutrients (Jul 2021)

Southwest Harvest for Health: An Adapted Mentored Vegetable Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors

Cindy K. Blair,
Prajakta Adsul,
Dolores D. Guest,
Andrew L. Sussman,
Linda S. Cook,
Elizabeth M. Harding,
Joseph Rodman,
Dorothy Duff,
Ellen Burgess,
Karen Quezada,
Ursa Brown-Glaberman,
Towela V. King,
Erika Baca,
Zoneddy Dayao,
Vernon Shane Pankratz,
Sally Davis,
Wendy Demark-Wahnefried

Affiliations

Cindy K. Blair: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Prajakta Adsul: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Dolores D. Guest: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Andrew L. Sussman: University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
Linda S. Cook: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Elizabeth M. Harding: Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Joseph Rodman: University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
Dorothy Duff: Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardener Program, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, Albuquerque, NM 87107, USA
Ellen Burgess: University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
Karen Quezada: University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
Ursa Brown-Glaberman: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Towela V. King: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Erika Baca: School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Zoneddy Dayao: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Vernon Shane Pankratz: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Sally Davis: Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Wendy Demark-Wahnefried: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13072319
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 7
p. 2319

Abstract

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Harvest for Health is a home-based vegetable gardening intervention that pairs cancer survivors with Master Gardeners from the Cooperative Extension System. Initially developed and tested in Alabama, the program was adapted for the different climate, growing conditions, and population in New Mexico. This paper chronicles the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of “Southwest Harvest for Health”. During the nine-month single-arm trial, 30 cancer survivor-Master Gardener dyads worked together to establish and maintain three seasonal gardens. Primary outcomes were accrual, retention, and satisfaction. Secondary outcomes were vegetable and fruit (V and F) intake, physical activity, and quality of life. Recruitment was diverse and robust, with 30 survivors of various cancers, aged 50–83, roughly one-third minority, and two-thirds females enrolled in just 60 days. Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, retention to the nine-month study was 100%, 93% reported “good-to-excellent” satisfaction, and 87% “would do it again.” A median increase of 1.2 servings of V and F/day was documented. The adapted home-based vegetable gardening program was feasible, well-received, and resulted in increased V and F consumption among adult cancer survivors. Future studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this program and to inform strategies to increase the successful implementation and further dissemination of this intervention.

Published in Nutrients

ISSN: 2072-6643 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients

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