1. Got Dirt?--A statewide gardening initiative to increase access to fruits and vegetables in Wisconsin
Amy Meinen, MPH, RD, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
Bettina Friese, PhD, Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, CA
William Wright, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Brown County, WI
Key Partners Involved:
University of Wisconsin Extension
Wisconsin State Master Gardener Association
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Public Health & Medicine
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services
Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, CA
Introduction: The purpose of the Got Dirt? Garden Initiative is to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables through the implementation of school, childcare, and community gardens in Wisconsin, with the overall goal of improving consumption. The Initiative components consist of a step-by-step instructional toolkit and hands-on training sessions for learning how to start a fruit and vegetable garden. In 2006, a process evaluation was completed to determine the effectiveness of the hands-on garden trainings and toolkit for helping teachers and childcare providers start gardens.
Design/Methods: Process evaluation measures were collected through two web-based surveys and five key informant interviews. Two web-based surveys were distributed to 143 training attendees and approximately 437 individuals receiving only a hard copy of the toolkit in 2005 with known and home addresses. A total of 203 toolkit surveys were completed (46% response rate). A total of 84 training surveys were completed (59% response rate). Additionally, five of the seven training leaders or facilitators completed key informant interviews.
Results: In 2005, a total of 54 gardens were started as a result of the hands-on garden trainings and 97 resulted from individuals using the toolkit exclusively. Attendance at one of the trainings was significantly associated with starting a childcare (p<.001) or school garden (p<.05), whereas starting community (p<.96) or home (p<.84) gardens were not. Individuals attending one of the seven trainings had less prior gardening experience than individuals receiving only a hard copy of the toolkit. . Additionally, approximately 63% of survey respondents felt the hands-on trainings were very to extremely useful. A significant difference between the trainings and the toolkit was found regarding the anticipated future use of the toolkit, as respondents receiving only a hard copy of the toolkit are more likely to use it again in the future.
Got Dirt? Garden Toolkit—step-by-step instructional guide for starting a garden
Discussion: Individuals attending the training had less prior gardening experience and may have been less likely to start a garden in general. Conversely, respondents receiving only hard copies of the toolkit had more gardening experience and were more likely to report using the toolkit to start a garden.
Public Health Implications: In the midst of an obesity epidemic, with a limited number of evidence-based
prevention strategies, the Got Dirt? Initiative has potential to be a viable program for improving consumption by increasing access to fruits and vegetables. With limited studies to date, prospective and randomized controlled studies are needed to further determine if a causal link between gardening and increased fruit and vegetable consumption exists.
Hands-on garden trainings are held every year for teachers and child care providers to learn how to start a garden
Elementary students gardening with cold frames
For more information about the Got Dirt? Gardening Initiative, please contact Amy Meinen at