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    • About FLHHN
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Horticulture as Catalyst for Social Interactions

Groups or movements using horticulture as the catalyst for social interactions span a broad range of organizations. Research has validated the health benefits, both psychological and sociological, of social interactions contributing to sense of community, social cohesion and social affiliation (Tam, 2014). The horticulture for health framework (Fleming, 2021) uses two subsets in this category:

Apolitical groups- (master gardeners, garden club, horticulture groups, green industry trade
 organizations, school gardens)   
Political/Social change groups- (food alliances, food literacy non-profits, community gardens, urban
 farms) 

Note: Urban farms, community gardens & school gardens straddle several horticulture for health categories including horticulture as a catalyst for social interactions. More detailed resources for these have been included in Landscapes for Health category.
Picture
Photo: A. Earl.unsplash
APOLITICAL GROUPS AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
Research has revealed that social connections and interactions are an important element of human health (Lavasseur et al., 2010). Apolitical groups like master gardener programs, garden clubs, horticulture groups (Rare Fruit Councils, American Horticulture Society etc.), and green industry trade groups affiliate using horticulture as a common bond. Their social interactions focus on networking, creating sense of community and community service. These have a high degree of volunteerism and promote social interactions. ​
Key organizations
Extension Master Gardener   
The Garden Club of America  
National Garden Clubs   
AmericanHort   
American Horticultural Society   
Books, journals & epublications on HORTICULTURE AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS/APOLITLCAL GROUPS ​
American Journal of Community Psychology
Public Garden magazine (American Public Gardens Association)
Research Digest (Children & Nature Network)
The American Gardener magazine (American Horticultural Society)
Research & articles on horticulture as a catalyst for social interactions/apolitical groups​​
Recently published selected research & articles:
 
      Boyer, R. Waliczek, T.M. & Zajicek, J.M. (2002). The master gardener program: Do benefits of the program go
​         beyond improving the horticultural knowledge of the participants? HortTechnology 12(3), 432-436.

      Companion, M. (2016). Lessons from ‘The bucket brigade”: The role of urban gardens in Native American cultural               continuance. In J.C. Dawson and A. Morales (Eds), Cities of Farmers: Urban Agricultural Practices and Processes,               University of Iowa Press, 126-140.

      Dicke, L.A. & Saitgalina, M. (2014). How can professional membership associations provide meaningful value for                   their members? Creating models of affiliation and engagement. Paper presented at: American Society of                           Association Executives Foundation Membership Engagement Models of the Future Award. American Society of               Association Executives Foundations.

      Hanson, B.M. (2012). Growing health: Community gardens and their effect on diet, physical and mental health and             community. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. University of Central Florida.

      Heilmayer, D., Reiss, N. and Buskirk, M. (2020). Community gardens cultivate positive experiences for refugees.                   Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture 30(1), 25-35.

      Leavell, M.A., Leiferman, J.A., Gascon, M., Braddick, F., Gonzalez, J.C. & Litt, J.S. (2019).  Nature-based social                           prescribing in urban settings to improve social connectedness and mental well-being: A review. Curr Environ                 Health Rep 6(4):297-308. doi: 10.1007/s40572-019-00251-7

      Mejia, A., Bhattacharya, M. & Miraglia, J. (2020).  Village Community Garden & Learning Center. Community                         gardening as a way to build cross-cultural community resilience in intersectionally diverse gardeners:                               Community-based participatory research and campus-community-partnered proposal. JMIR Res Protoc                           9(10):e21218. doi: 10.2196/21218

      Noone, S. & Jenkins, N. (2018). Digging for dementia: Exploring the experience of community gardening from the               perspectives of people with dementia. Aging Mental Health 22(7), 881-888. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1393793

      Okvat, H. and Zautra, A. (2011). Community gardening: A parsimonious path to individual, community and                             environmental resilience. American Journal of Community Psychology 47, 374–87. doi: 10.1007/s10464-010-9404-z

      Ong, M., Baker, A., Aguilar, A. & Stanley, M. (2019). The meanings attributed to community gardening: A qualitative             study. Health Place 59:102190. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102190

      Poortinga, W. (2012). Community resilience and health: The role of bonding, bridging, and linking aspects of social             capital. Health and Place 18(2), 286-295. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.017

     Scott, T.L., Masser, B.M. & Pachana, N.A. (2020). Positive aging benefits of home and community gardening
        activities: Older adults report enhanced self-esteem, productive endeavours, social engagement and exercise.                SAGE Open Medicine 22;8. doi: 10.1177/2050312120901732

      Soga, M., Cox, D.T., Yamaura, Y., Gaston, K.J., Kurisu, K. & Hanaki, K. (2017). Health benefits of urban allotment                     gardening: Improved physical and psychological well-being and social integration. Int J Environ Res Public Health           14(1):71. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14010071 
​
      Tam, A. (2014). Empowering citizens in a global era: A grounded theory study of community gardens. All                               Dissertations. Paper 1437. Clemson University.
Examples of horticulture as a catalyst for social interactions/apolitical groups ​
Garden Club of Madison install Gothic High Tunnel hoop houses in New Jersey.
                 
Honor Center Garden & Sanctuary Garden, Gainesville FL.
Support from master gardeners including garden design, fundraising & ongoing volunteerism keep the garden & its programs operational.
 
Sarasota Garden Club, Sarasota, FL.
Activities are social and community focused & include volunteering at botanical gardens, Ringling Secret Garden, Orange Blossom Community Garden, and more.              

Videos & webinars on horticulture as a catalyst for social interactions/apolitical groups​
Learning series joint initiative from National League of Cities, Children Nature Network, National Recreation and Park Association & Justice Outside with a variety of topics online related to children’s access to nature.
                
Children and Nature Network’s resources online: benefits of nature, equity & inclusion, families, youth.
              
Saving the world with gardening TedXAdelaide looks at this activity as a platform for physical activity, inclusion and more.
               
Gardening as a social activity video highlights university students connecting through gardening.
                
Related organizations ​
Rare Fruit Councils
American Community Garden Association (ACGA)   
National Association of Landscape Professionals    
American Public Garden Association  (APGA)  
Children & Nature Network  
Perennial Plant Association   
Written & compiled by Lesley Fleming Oct 2021 
POLITICAL/SOCIAL CHANGE GROUPS AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS  
Research has revealed that social connections and interactions are an important element of human health (Lavasseur et al., 2010). The focus of this resource page is on social interactions involving horticultural activities, and those promoting social/political change related to food security. These types of social interactions foster sense of community, social cohesion and social affiliation (Tam, 2014). The type of organizations that fall into this category include food alliances, food literacy non-profits, community gardens and urban farms. 
​
Additional resources on food action, types of gardens (school, community gardens, urban farms), and different aspects of food security can be found in Food, Nutrition & Food Action category and Landscapes for Health category. ​
Key organizations
Civil Eats – a weekly epublication with articles related to health, food security, food + policy,
 environment, food justice, farming   
Food Alliance  
Books, journals & epublications on HORTICULTURE AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN POLITICAL/SOCIAL CHANGE GROUPS​
​Nettle, C. (2014). Community gardening as social action. Routledge.
Research & articles on HORTICULTURE AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN POLITICAL/SOCIAL CHANGE GROUPS​
 Recently published selected research & articles:
 
      Alaimo, K., Beavers, A.W., Crawford, C., Snyder, E.H. & Litt, J.S. (2016). Amplifying health through community                         gardens: A framework for advancing multicomponent, behaviorally based neighborhood interventions. Current               Environmental Health Reports 3(3):302-12. doi: 10.1007/s40572-016-0105-0.

      Bice, M.R., Ball, J., Bickford, N., Bickford, S.H., Hollman, A., Coughlin, A., Dinkel, D., Meyer, R.C. & Ranglack, D.H.                   (2018). Community gardens: Interactions between communities, schools, and impact on students. The Health                   Educator 50(1).

      Community Good Centres Canada. (n.d.). Mental health benefits of community gardening.
         https://cfccanada.ca/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=8a96a260-4617-4017-879d-e83d0d6a876a.

      Egerer, M., Fouch, N., Anderson, E.C. & Clarke, M. (2020). Socio-ecological connectivity differs in magnitude and                 direction across urban landscapes. Science Reports 10(1):4252. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-61230-9.

      Glover, T.D., Parry, D.C. & Shinew, K.J. (2005). Building relationships, accessing resources: Mobilizing social capital             in community garden contexts. Journal Leisure Research
         37
(4):45-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2005.11950062.

      Heilmayer, D., Reiss, N. & Buskirk, M. (2020). Community gardens cultivate positive experiences for refugees.                       Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture 30 (1), 25-35.

      Levasseur, M., Richard, L., Gauvin, L. & Raymond, E. (2010). Inventory and analysis of definitions of social                               participation found in the aging literature: Proposed taxonomy of social activities. Social Science Medicine
         71
(12): 2141-9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.09.041.

      Lovell, R., Husk, K., Bethel, A. & Garside, R. (2014). What are the health and well-being impacts of community                       gardening for adults and children: A mixed method systematic review protocol. Environmental Evidence 3, 20.

      Mehta, K., Lopresti, S. & Thomas, J. (2019). Addressing nutrition and social connection through community                           gardening: A South Australian study. Health Promotions Journal Australia 30 Suppl 1:5-8. doi: 10.1002/hpja.235.

      Mmako, N.J., Capetola, T. & Henderson-Wilson, C. (2019). Sowing social inclusion for marginalized residents of a                 social housing development through a community garden. Health Promotions Journal Australia 30(3):350-358.
         doi: 10.1002/hpja.225. 

      Okvat, H. & Zautra, A. (2011). Community gardening: A parsimonious path to individual, community and                                 environmental resilience. American Journal of Community Psychology 47, 374–87.
         https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-010-9404-z.
​
      Tam, A. (2014). Empowering citizens in a global era: A grounded theory study of community gardens.
         All Dissertations. Paper 1437. Clemson University. 
Examples of HORTICULTURE AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN POLITICAL/SOCIAL CHANGE GROUPS ​
How Urban Farms are Changing Cities –several urban farms in Victoria, British Columbia are visited, exploring the connections between growing food, sustainability, & connections among people, restaurants & cities.
                 
This Detroit Agrihood is Transforming its Community –Michigan Urban Farming Initiative Tour             
​
Videos & webinars of HORTICULTURE AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN POLITICAL/SOCIAL CHANGE GROUPS​
Planting with purpose at Urban Tilth: Civil Eats TV urban farm profile transforming a food desert into community friendly productive space.                
Related organizations ​
HEAL
Foodtank   
​Written & compiled by Lesley Fleming Oct 2021 
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