2023 Kentucky County Health Rankings data for Clinton County notes that adults reported that their physical health was not good on 5.3 of the previous 30 days and that their mental health was not good on 6.1 days of the same period. The therapeutic benefits of gardening on both physical and mental health are widely noted. According to the National Library of Medicine (October 2022), these benefits include high quality of life, sleep improvement, increased hope, happiness, reduction of symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. 

In April 2023, the Lake Cumberland Area Family and Consumer Sciences agents collectively offered an area-wide program “Grow Your Garden, Grow Your Mind” to individuals from throughout the 10-county area. Participants attended classes related to raised bed gardening, rock gardening, flower pressing, plant identification/garden staking, growing berries year-round, and growing succulents, as well as sampling nutritious recipes from Plate It Up! Ky Proud and SNAP-Ed. Learning opportunities included educational information, discussion of how gardening impacts physical and mental health, hands-on activities, and demonstrations on how to garden. Participants also received garden plants, seeds, and gardening tools to encourage participants to start a garden or continue gardening.

57 participants completed the post-event survey. Survey results indicated the following: 98% of participants agreed or strongly agreed they had increased their ability to use art to promote mental health (as a result of the rock gardening and plant stakes classes); 100% agreed or strongly agreed they would use what they had learned from the event to increase their personal wellbeing; 88% stated they left with new ideas of healthy recipes they could make at home; 98% stated they had increased their knowledge of berries; 94% stated they learned a new idea for gardening decorations; 96% stated they were likely to grow or purchase a succulent following the program; 100% stated they were likely to use plant stakes in their gardens; and 100% stated an increase in knowledge of raised bed gardening. Additionally, 99% stated they were better acquainted with resources available at the Extension Office because of the event.