Overview: Gardening as a Public Health Strategy
Gardening initiatives for children and youth are more than a pastime; they are a potential primary prevention strategy against cancer and other chronic diseases. A rapid literature review led by Christina Gillies, adjunct professor at the University of Alberta, syntheses data from dozens of studies in high-income countries to explore how childhood gardening can shape lifelong health. The research suggests that when young people grow, harvest, and share food, they also cultivate healthier behaviors and stronger social supports that may reduce cancer risk down the line.
Key Findings: What Gardening Does for Young People
The review encompassed 48 studies and found several consistent benefits of school- and community-based gardening programs. These initiatives often improve nutrition-related knowledge and boost healthy eating patterns. Children exposed to garden-based learning tend to choose more fruits and vegetables, an important factor in defending against obesity-related cancer risks.
In addition to dietary benefits, gardening promotes physical activity. Regular hands-on involvement—planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting—helps reduce sedentary time and keeps kids moving throughout the day. Psychosocial advantages also emerged, with participants reporting greater social connection and a stronger sense of belonging within their school or community settings.
On weight outcomes, researchers found the results were inconclusive across the studies evaluated. Still, the broader health benefits—improved fitness, better nutrition literacy, and stronger social ties—present a compelling case for integrating gardening into youth health initiatives.
From Idea to Implementation: Why Now?
Gillies’ interest in gardening as a health intervention began with a local Alberta project in collaboration with an Indigenous community. The school-based gardening effort aimed to support intergenerational and land-based learning, encourage cultural revitalization, and promote healthy behaviors among students, staff, and the wider community. The experience highlighted both the appetite for gardening programs and the practical barriers to their long-term success.
Across Alberta, community gardens are thriving. Edmonton alone hosts more than 80 gardens, including the University of Alberta’s Green and Gold Community Garden, which supports dozens of plant varieties with help from volunteers. These spaces serve as living laboratories where children and adults can learn about food systems, nutrition, and the importance of physical activity in everyday life.
Barriers and Solutions: Keeping Gardens Going
Implementing garden projects in schools and communities requires careful planning and sustained support. Common obstacles include limited human resources, scarce land, and tight budgets. Gillies emphasizes the need for champions—individuals or coalitions who can initiate, nurture, and carry projects forward beyond single events into ongoing public health efforts.
Her work also highlights equity considerations. An ongoing equity-focused analysis shows that effective programs engage families and communities, build partnerships, and account for gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and culture. Designing gardening initiatives with the communities most affected by health disparities can help ensure more equitable improvements in living conditions and health outcomes.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next for Gardening and Health
Gillies plans long-term studies to identify how garden-based programs can sustain positive lifestyle changes into adulthood and translate into measurable health benefits. In the meantime, she has begun integrating her own research into daily life by volunteering at Laurier Heights Food Forest. The community project features a thriving orchard with raspberries, apples, haskaps, saskatoons, and flowers, and it offers a practical illustration of how gardening can unify physical activity, nutrition education, and neighborhood connection.
For families, schools, and communities curious about the health benefits of growing food, Gillies offers a simple invitation: start small, secure a champion, and foster a supportive environment where gardening becomes a shared, enduring habit. As she notes from personal experience: “It’s a wonderful place to meet other people in your community while also experiencing connection to the land, moving your body, and trying different foods.”
Conclusion: A Green Thumb Can Be Part of a Healthier Life Path
When implemented thoughtfully, youth gardening projects can support healthier eating, more physical activity, and stronger social networks—key elements in cancer prevention. While more long-term data is needed to quantify all outcomes, the converging evidence underscores a clear message: developing a green thumb in childhood is a promising, equity-centered approach to building healthier futures.
