Nothing embodies this delivery model more than the Elfrida Community Garden, located at one of CCHCI's 4 clinics in Cochise County. In its 6th year, vegetable and flowers are grown on the 4 acre garden,150 fruit trees line walking paths, and a butterfly garden surrounds a beautiful pond. The garden, initially funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, wa
s designed to reduce or prevent dementia and depression, related and unrelated to diabetes. The relationship between physical health, nutrition, chronic disease and depression, provided an ideal framework for implementing a community-based holistic prevention and treatment approach that eliminated the stigma often associated with mental health illness and treatment. The garden continues to be central focus of this larger wellness grant, Sembrando Salud/Sowing Wellness, which includes yoga, exercise, art therapy, and creative writing. All activities, chosen by participants, were based on extensive research illustrating that mental and physical health may be improved by increasing physical activity, providing opportunities for socialization, and improving nutrition. Gardening was chosen because it includes all of these elements. The garden is a focal point for a variety of activities. Under the tutelage of older Latino men, participants constructed an horno, or Pueblo style bread oven. The oven is center for meal preparation, and local residents often gather for music, dancing, and for those less physically active, to simply enjoy sitting and talking. Organic food is grown year round outside and in 4 greenhouses. Produce is used for healthy eating demonstrations, given to volunteers, or sold at weekly farmers markets. The lack of participation in the garden by Hispanic residents, many of whom work into older age, or for cultural norms, choose not to participate in a public garden, were addressed. Funding through a USDA Community Food Project and CCHCI, allowed garden personnel to place 2 multi-tiered grow towers in homes of 59 low-income families. An instructional organic garden DVD was produced from educational presentations, and delivered to participants who received the backyard towers. Longitudinal data using the Global Appraisal of Individual Need (GAIN) and National Outcome Measures (NOMS) measurement tools were gathered from the intervention group (n=43) and the comparison group (n=31). Outcomes revealed statistically significant decreases in depressive symptoms and general mental distress, and increases in social support, important for dissipating stress, among the intervention group compared to those in the comparison group. Participants receiving the backyard gardens often mentioned the joy and cost savings of growing their own food. In the words of one participant, “They brought us seeds and the towers. We appreciate the opportunity to grow more of our own food. It helps with the cost of living.” Another commented, "What the project did for me was help me give discipline. It reminded me of the importance of paying attention to something on a regular basis. It had been decades since I’d had my hands in the earth. I really enjoyed it.” A new gardener commented, “It is wonderful to be outside in the yard. I love sharing my flowers and herbs. The organic way is best. When I go to the store, the organic vegetables are so costly.”
The garden project has surpassed original goals, and continues to evolve to meet local needs. Dramatic recoveries from depression have resulted from this culturally specific implementation based on community empowerment. Nutrition has improved, and low income families are able to enjoy organic food, grown in their own homes.
