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

Authors

• Cindy K. Blair, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
• Prajakta Adsul, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
• Dolores D. Guest, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
• Andrew L. Sussman, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
• Linda S. Cook, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 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; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 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; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
• Vernon Shane Pankratz, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC07-4025, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102, USA
• Sally M. Davis, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
• Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-6-2021

Abstract

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.

Publication Title

Nutrients

ISSN

2072-6643

Volume

13

Issue

7

DOI

10.3390/nu13072319

Recommended Citation

Blair CK, Adsul P, Guest DD, Sussman AL, Cook LS, Harding EM, Rodman J, Duff D, Burgess E, Quezada K, Brown-Glaberman U, King TV, Baca E, Dayao Z, Pankratz VS, Davis S, Demark-Wahnefried W. Southwest Harvest for Health: An Adapted Mentored Vegetable Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors. Nutrients. 2021 Jul 6;13(7):2319. doi: 10.3390/nu13072319. PMID: 34371829; PMCID: PMC8308636.