According to Michigan State University Extension, gardening-considered a moderate intensity level activity - can reduce the risk for obesity and many chronic diseases.  They also report on the effectiveness of gardening as a scientifically noted stress reliever. 

The Kenton County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent collaborated with the Northern Kentucky Extension Homemakers Housing and Environment chairs, plus the horticulture staff in Kenton, Boone and Campbell counties to offer a program on gardening options for everybody.  This topic was part of the KEHA plan of work, and provided great leadership opportunities for these chairmen through working with program planning and implementation, including acting as program facilitator for the day. A total of 70 participants attended this Saturday workshop, which provided 6 lesson options for homemakers to teach in their clubs.

The program began with a local horticulture professor covering the topic, “The physical, emotional, and mental benefits of gardening”. Participants then got to attend three of the six concurrent sessions offered, with topics covering a variety of home horticulture subjects.  

End of session evaluations documented that as a result of the program:
           100% of participants would be making different plant choices
           98% were more confident that one can continue to garden as they age
           92% felt they could now choose and care for cut flowers, accurately identify hydrangeas, grow some different herbs, start seeds indoors and teach the lessons to others

 A four month follow-up evaluation revealed:
           69% found gardening helped them with relaxing or de-stressing
           53% discovered gardening provided them with opportunities to be more active
           31% reported they were better able to garden as they age, had planted new cut flowers in their landscape, changed plant selection to emphasize color in a new way, planted new herbs and started seeds indoors for the first time
           In addition, 66% reported sharing information with fellow club members, friends, and family members-totaling over 430 individuals, and       19% of participants indicated this was the first program they attended from Cooperative Extension.  One participant closed by saying, “It revitalized my interest in gardening.  I once was an avid gardener but had lost interest but the programs sparked my interest again.”