Reda Fugate Perry County SNAP-ED Senior Assistant

September 6, 2023

Planting our own

The Perry County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Senior. In Collaboration with University of Kentucky Recovery Garden Program and a local Recovery Group. Built 3 tabletop gardens with funds from UK Recovery Garden Program, with the SNAP Senior and Recovery Group providing labor for the project. With the idea that making tabletop gardens all participants would have access to the garden regardless of physical abilities.

Understanding the importance of nutrition and recovery going hand in hand. A series of 7 Nutrition Education classes used the University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum. Where participants would have nutrition education and prepare a recipe provided in the classroom. The participants would consume the recipe and give feedback. Using recipes that required vegetables most of the time, vegetables harvested from the recovery garden were used when possible. Several of the participants stated that they would take produce from the garden home and prepare the recipes used in class for their families. Having access to fresh produce helped with cost of food for the families. Plans are to harvest and perverse some of the produce with the class. Using fresh produce from the recovery garden also cut down of the salt intake of their family.

A per and post survey was conducted with the class. Upon ending the class the post survey was taken and provided results of participants had improved in several categories Improvements intake of Vegetables by 71%, Physical Activity by 100%, diet quality indicators 100% in one or more categories, and 100% improvement in food source management.