Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults

A health education workshop was developed to encourage Hispanic older adults to participate in gardening, with four objectives: (1) explain the benefits of gardening, (2) expand skills and knowledge on how to grow an indoor garden, (3) identify culturally relevant fruits and vegetables, and (4) integrate age-related adaptations to accommodate physical limitations while gardening. The one and half-hour Spanish-speaking workshop was taught via Zoom. The instructor created the curriculum for the workshop based on Malcolm Knowles' Andragogy Learning Theory. After the workshop, a program evaluation was administered to the six attendees, five female, and one male. Fifty percent of the participants indicated that they wanted to start growing herbs in the home, 25% wanted to care for house plants, and 25% wanted to have an outdoor garden. Upon completion, all participants (100%) indicated that they felt gardening could help them stay healthy and engage in physical activity and that they felt confident in making accommodations for any physical limitations they may have. This workshop aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of gardening that will lead to healthy behaviors, such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and engaging in physical activity. Recommendations for future application of this program are to offer it in-person to allow for more hands-on experience and socialization among the participants.

1 Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults Erika Thompson College of Nursing, University of Utah Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program Master's Project Committee: Katarina Friberg Felsted, PhD, Chair Jacqueline Eaton, PhD Gail Towsley, PhD December 12, 2021 Author Note Contact the author Erika Thompson directly at [e-mail] Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 2 Abstract A health education workshop was developed to encourage Hispanic older adults to participate in gardening, with four objectives: (1) explain the benefits of gardening, (2) expand skills and knowledge on how to grow an indoor garden, (3) identify culturally relevant fruits and vegetables, and (4) integrate age-related adaptations to accommodate physical limitations while gardening. The one and half-hour Spanish-speaking workshop was taught via Zoom. The instructor created the curriculum for the workshop based on Malcolm Knowles’ Andragogy Learning Theory. After the workshop, a program evaluation was administered to the six attendees, five female, and one male. Fifty percent of the participants indicated that they wanted to start growing herbs in the home, 25% wanted to care for house plants, and 25% wanted to have an outdoor garden. Upon completion, all participants (100%) indicated that they felt gardening could help them stay healthy and engage in physical activity and that they felt confident in making accommodations for any physical limitations they may have. This workshop aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of gardening that will lead to healthy behaviors, such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and engaging in physical activity. Recommendations for future application of this program are to offer it in-person to allow for more hands-on experience and socialization among the participants. Keywords: diverse populations, garden, Spanish, workshop, planting Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 3 Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults The Hispanic older adult population faces many health challenges, such as a rising number of chronic health conditions, food insecurity, and limited income (Administration of Community Living, 2017). To address these challenges, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommend that older adults consume healthy diets by including fruits and vegetables and engage in physical activity (U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., 2020). Gardening can be an excellent activity to address health challenges, as gardening can help individuals and their families increase fruit and vegetable consumption for better nutrition (U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., 2020). Gardening is considered a type of physical activity (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). It may help diverse communities when experiencing low income or in times of distress (Carney et al., 2011). Therefore, a need exists to create a gardening workshop to support Hispanic older adults to understand the benefits of gardening, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and engage in physical activity through gardening. Literature Review The Hispanic population age 65 and older is projected to grow to 19.9 million by 2060, a 21% projected growth. Hispanic Americans currently make up 8% of the older population. (Profile of Hispanic Americans Aged 65 and over, 2017). As the Hispanic older adult population grows, potential health challenges associated with aging will consequently need to be addressed. According to the Profile of Hispanic Americans Age 65 and Over (2017), Hispanic older adults 60 years and older have a 41% obesity rate and a rising number of chronic health conditions. In addition, the five leading causes of death in Hispanic older adults are heart disease, cancer, Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 4 stroke, diabetes, and chronic lower respiratory disease (Administration of Community Living, 2017). To address the health challenges of all older adults, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025. The guide recommends that adults 60 and older customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverages that reflect personal preferences. Including cultural traditions, budgetary considerations, with special considerations to protein, and vitamin B12, and water intake (U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., 2020). Nutrition The USDA recommends that older adults enjoy a healthy diet including ingredients such as vegetables of all types (including dark green vegetables), red and orange beans, peas, and lentils, and starchy vegetables, whole fruits, grains, and dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese, protein foods, and oils (U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., 2020). Gardening is an alternative solution to help older adults increase their vegetable and fruit consumption. The research conducted by Palar (2019) among Hispanic/Latino immigrant families found that participants engaging in urban home gardening ate more fruits and vegetables due to program participation because of affordability, accessibility, freshness, flavor, and convenience of their garden produce located in their homes (Palar et al., 2019). Furthermore, participants experienced weight loss and improved adherence to a diabetes diet attributed to the gardens (Palar et al., 2019). They indicated that participating in gardening allows eating healthier by increasing vegetable consumption. Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 5 Furthermore, Algert (2016) found that participants who gardened indicated that their average intake of vegetables was 2 cups per day before harvesting vegetables from their garden. The average intake doubled to 4 cups per day once they harvested vegetables, as most participants ate from their garden (Algert et al., 2016). These findings suggest that older adults can have a nutrient-dense, healthy diet if they garden. Furthermore, the USDA and HHS recommended that Americans eat vegetables and fruits that reflect their preferences and cultural background. Algert (2016) found that participants grew culturally favorite food such as chayote, bitter melon, goji berries, green tomatoes, okra, collards, and Bok choy. Further, gardeners maintain a connection to family and cultural traditions, and they might also have access to foods that might not be available at grocery stores or are too expensive (Algert et al., 2016). Moreover, research by Taylor (2017) included three diverse groups, African American, Chinese American, and Mexican American; each group grew food with a cultural background. The Mexican American group grew hot peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, grapes, green beans, corn, tomatillos, and more fruit trees than the other two groups (Taylor et al., 2016). These findings reinforce that gardening can help Hispanic older adults enjoy a diet rich with foods that are relevant to their culture. Physical activity To reduce the risk of chronic health conditions, physical activity is recommended by the HHS and the USDA for older adults with chronic health conditions. Physical activity reduces disease-specific mortality, improves physical function and quality of life, and reduces the risk of falls (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). The physical activity guidelines for older adults 65 and older is to complete at least 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderateintensity physical activity spread out throughout the week (U.S. Department of Health and Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 6 Human Services, 2018). Older adults should engage in balance, aerobic, and musclestrengthening activities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Examples of aerobic exercise include walking, dancing, swimming, jogging, cycling, yard work, and other sports (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Muscle-strengthening activities include using exercise bands, body-weight exercises, digging, lifting (such as carrying groceries or harvesting the garden), as well as some yoga postures and some forms of tai-chi (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Gardening can be an excellent way for older adults to meet these physical activity recommendations. Scott (2020) found that participants spend an average of 10 hours a week gardening at varying intensity levels, including weeding, raking, watering, tending plants and shrubs, composting, and mowing the lawn. Gardeners remain physically active and involved in other endeavors by engaging in these activities (Scott et al., 2020). In another study by Scott (2014), participants shared that gardening kept them physically and mentally active. Gardening was viewed as an outlet to exercise (Scott et al., 2014). Lastly, in Palar's (2019) research, participants described that gardening increased exercise and reduced sedentary behavior in adults and children by tending to the garden and performing watering, weeding, and planting activities. However, some older adults experience physical limitations due to chronic health conditions that lead to chronic disability. Other individuals are born with a disability, or a disability may result from trauma (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). While it might be challenging to engage in gardening, evidence shows that regular physical activity benefits people with disabilities through improved cardiovascular and muscle fitness and better ability to perform tasks of daily living (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Therefore, it is important to include physical adaptations to help older adults garden regardless of Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 7 their physical challenges. Physical adaptations to be considered when gardening with physical limitations include garden design, garden safety to avoid injury, warm-up exercises before and after gardening, adaptive tools and devices, accommodations for individuals with vision impairment, and consideration of joint and muscle limitations (Washington State University Master Gardeners, 2021). Economy Another challenge facing Hispanic older adults is limited income: the poverty rate for Hispanic Americans aged 64 and older in 2017 was 17%, higher than the 9.2% rate for all older Americans. Households headed by Hispanic Americans 65 and older reported a median income of $40,512 (Administration of Community Living, 2017). Gardening offers the opportunity for those with limited income to supplement food. In a study by Carney (2012), 38 families participated in a community gardening project. The median annual income for a family of four in the community studied was $9,000, far below the poverty level (Carney et al., 2011). Furthermore, the researcher found that in the families sampled, food security was a concern for about 31% of the participants before the gardening project and dropped to 3% after the gardening project (Carney et al., 2011). This is a staggering drop. Additionally, another study found that gardeners reported monthly savings of $84 per month for those engaging in community gardens and $92 per month for those engaging in home gardens. Gardeners said they would have had financial struggles without the savings (Algert et al., 2016). Mejia (2020) also argued that community gardens could help in times of hardship. Because gardens can provide access to fresh food and support to diverse groups in crisis, community gardens can help families experiencing economic hardship by supplying nutritious food and alleviating food insecurity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 100% of the gardening Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 8 plots at the community gardens in this study were utilized, compared to the previous year when only 65% of the plots were used (Mejia et al., 2020). Furthermore, growers stated that the produce from the community gardens supplemented their food supply when they experienced unemployment or were furloughed and isolated (Mejia et al., 2020). Family Connections An additional benefit of gardening is family connections. As described in the study by Carney (2012), participants reported that gardening contributed to a sense of togetherness within the family. About two-thirds of children worked in the garden along with their parents. Participants in Algert's study (2016) shared that gardening led to spending more time with family members; most participants gardened with their spouses, children, or members of their extended family (Algert et al., 2016). Further, gardeners that participated in community gardens felt connected with the community and neighbors through sharing produce, working side by side, and sharing knowledge about gardening (Algert et al., 2016). The interactions with neighbors, friends, and family were a source of happiness, friendship, and learning (Algert et al., 2016). Heliker et al. (2001) found that gardening provided an opportunity for gardeners to share memories with family members when growing up, such as gardening with parents. Gardening was an opportunity to share information on the use of medicinal plants, such as corn shuck tea for whooping cough or peppermint tea for stomach cramps, and to pass on this knowledge to other family members (Heliker et al., 2001). Additionally, parents learn the name of flowers and plants and teach them to their children while gardening, contributing to family ties, and creating memories (Heliker et al., 2001). Given this substantive scientific literature, health education through gardening programs targeting Hispanic older adults should be developed to help individuals (1) eat nutritious diets Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 9 through better access to fruits and vegetables, (2) engage in physical activity, (3) reduce the cost of groceries, and (4) strengthen family connections. This gap in the literature is underscored by a significant study that identified twenty-five nutrition education studies that met the criteria of being a community-based program and included adults 55 and older. Only one study of the twenty-five offered nutrition education through gardening. Furthermore, there was no indication if any of these twenty-five programs included Hispanic older adults (Sahyoun, 2004). Problem Statement Gardening offers many benefits to help address Hispanic older adults' challenges, such as supplementing food and improving nutrition with vegetables and fruits from their culture of origin, staying physically active, reducing grocery spending, and helping families connect and pass down knowledge through generations. However, not all community programs include Hispanic older adults or are presented in Spanish. Also, only a few programs encourage gardening to prevent or mitigate all the health challenges listed. Therefore, health education programs are needed to encourage Hispanic older adults to engage in gardening, to promote healthy behaviors such as consuming a healthy, nutritious diet by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, staying physically active, reducing food costs, and fostering engagement with family and friends. Study purpose The purpose of this health education workshop is to encourage Hispanic older adults to participate in gardening by1) explaining the benefits, (2) expanding skills and knowledge on how to grow an indoor garden, (3) identifying culturally relevant fruits and vegetables that grow in their area, and (4) integrating age-related adaptations to accommodate physical limitations while gardening. Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 10 Conceptual Framework The Andragogy Learning Theory (Knowles, 1973) informed the development of this gardening workshop. The theory is based on five main assumptions: (1) self-concept is when an individual self-identifies as an adult, and any learning experiences that treat him differently affect their learning; (2) adult learning experience is when individuals mature and have many life experiences that give them a broader base to relate to new knowledge; (3) readiness to learn-adults are interested in learning relevant subjects based on their personal lives; (4) orientation to learning which explains adults desire to apply the new knowledge immediately to their role; (5) motivation to learn -- adults are motivated to learn from internal factors (Knowles, 1973). Based on this theory, Knowles recommends that adult educators offer (1) a cooperative learning environment, (2) assess the learner's interests and needs, (3) develop learning objectives based on their interests and skill level, (4) incorporate activities, resources, and materials for instructions and (5) evaluate the quality of the learning experience (Theories, 2021). The workshop was developed using Knowles' recommendations to help older adults learn gardening. Methods The instructor applied for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval through the University of Utah. However, because this workshop is a program evaluation, it was deemed not human research. Thus, IRB oversight was not required, and the study was deemed exempt. Recruitment The instructor sought and received approval from the Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services (SLCoAA) Division Manager to advertise and recruit participants through senior centers located in Salt Lake County. In addition, permission was granted from the SLCoAA Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 11 Associate Manager to access contact information such as phone numbers and emails to recruit participants. The instructor reached about100 Spanish-speaking older adults that actively used the SLCoAA services to extend an invitation to the workshops via weekly emails. The emails were sent out weekly a month before the workshop, totaling four emails at the end of the month. Furthermore, the instructor contacted an additional 20 older adults who had already participated in other classes offered by SLCoAA. Since the instructor already had individual relationships with these potential participants, they knew the instructor and were willing to talk. The instructor extended an invitation to the gardening workshop during the phone calls. These calls allowed the instructor to gauge their interest in gardening and elicit what they would like to learn in the workshop; written notes were taken to document the information. The instructor included this information in the workshop's curriculum. The phone calls to previous participants generated interest in the workshop from four individuals. To engage these four individuals, the instructor sent a weekly email reminder three weeks before the workshop, an email the day before the workshop, and a text message the morning of the workshop. The instructor realized that most older adults declined the invitation throughout these calls. Their reasons cited for declining included lack of technology experience, lack of technology devices available in the home, or lack of internet access. The SLCo has an iPad lending program for older adults in Salt Lake County. Older adults who choose to participate in the program receive an iPad to borrow for three months, access to instructional classes on how to use an iPad, taught in a group setting, and access the internet. The iPad lending program was available for older adults interested in the Gardening at Any Age workshop. However, the instructor realized that it was not feasible to translate the PowerPoint presentations from English to Spanish in the iPad instructional classes. In addition to delivering Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 12 the iPad to their homes (increasing the risk of exposure to COVID-19) the instructor would be responsible for teaching them how to use the iPad; as such, these efforts would not warrant attendance to the gardening workshop. In the future, it would be ideal to implement the workshop in-person to avoid lack of access to technology/internet or to have the iPad loaning program implemented among Spanish speakers before offering the Gardening at Any Age workshop. The Gardening at Any Age workshop was also included in October's Senior Scoop monthly newsletter. The newsletter displays an assortment of virtual classes offered to older adults in Salt Lake County (SLCo). It has a Spanish section where the instructor promoted the Gardening at Any Age workshop. The newsletter is available in print at SLCo senior centers, online, and posted on the SLCoAA website. Instructions on registering for the Gardening at Any Age workshop were included in the newsletter. However, it did not generate any registrations for the workshop as stated in the program evaluation completed by participants. In addition, to reach other participants outside Salt Lake County, the instructor created an event on her personal Facebook page to promote the Gardening at Any Age workshop. The Facebook event included the date, time, and description of the workshop. The flyer was posted in English and Spanish on the event page (Appendix A2). The instructor provided daily comments in the discussion section of the event to engage the interested audience and create discussion around gardening. The instructor shared the workshop event in Facebook groups that target Hispanics to generate more interest. These groups are Hispanos en Utah, Recursos para Latinos en Utah, Latinos en Utah, Clasificados Provo y el Sur de Utah, Recursos para Latinos, Latinos en Salt Lake City, and Utah Latinos. The event was also shared in a few English-speaking Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 13 gardening groups, such as Utah Gardeners and Utah Best Gardening groups. Analytics show that the event was shared eleven times by the instructor and other Facebook friends. These posts and reposts generated the interest of five people. The instructor contacted every person interested in attending the workshop to acknowledge their interest and sent them additional information. They were contacted again via Facebook messenger the day before the workshop with details on accessing the workshop. Sample size and description The Gardening at Any Age workshop accommodates 12 older adults aged 55 and older. Eligibility (inclusion criteria) included those who self-identify as Hispanic, speak Spanish, and live in Utah. Potential participants also needed to use technology well enough to join via Zoom. The instructor chose 55 and older to allow a broader range of participants. Participants could be gardeners or have the interest to start gardening. Exclusion criteria included not speaking Spanish, self-identifying as non-Hispanic, or younger than 55 years old. Six participants attended the workshop. Four participants were recruited via phone calls, and two participants did not provide information on how they found out about the workshop. Curriculum The Gardening at Any Age workshop implementation was held on Friday, October 15, 2021, via Zoom from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. The instructor created a PowerPoint to guide the conversation and display critical points of each concept discussed during the workshop. Activity #1 Introductions The participants introduced themselves and shared information about where they live, whether they consider themselves gardeners, why they wanted to start gardening, and what they Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 14 wanted to learn during the workshop. The instructor took written notes about the participants’ interests. After the introductions, the instructor shared the workshop objectives: 1) identify at least two benefits of gardening, 2) identify at least two accommodations to continue gardening when having physical limitations, 3) learn how to start an indoor garden, and 4) identify vegetables and herbs that can grow indoors (See Appendix B). Activity #2 Benefits of gardening to address the first objective The instructor explained that gardening has many health benefits, such as increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, engaging in physical activity, reducing the cost of groceries, access to fruits and vegetables throughout the year, socialization, and reducing stress and anxiety. These provided an opportunity for the participants to share why they like gardening and start a garden. Activity #3 Accommodations to gardening with physical limitations to address the second objective The instructor explained that engaging in Gardening at Any Age provides many health benefits. Because older adults have physical limitations that can keep them from gardening, accommodations are available to help them continue gardening and prevent injuries. The instructor discussed eight physical accommodations to make gardening easier and information to reduce accidents or falls. This information was selected and translated by the instructor from the Gardening for Life, a guide to garden adaptations for gardeners of all ages and abilities created by WSU Master Gardeners (Washington State University Master Gardeners, 2021). Next, the participants talked about why it was hard to continue gardening outside and how they could grow Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 15 in raised garden beds or big pots to make it easier. They were engaged in this topic and provided a lot of input. Activity #4 Gardening indoors to address the third objective The instructor explained that gardening indoors was an accessible alternative because it doesn't require much space; individuals who do not have a backyard or access to community gardens can grow an indoor garden. Another benefit of an indoor garden is that they can use the seeds from the vegetables they are already consuming; for example, jalapeno peppers or tomatoes have seeds that can be used to start a plant. The seeds in tomatoes can also grow a plant in containers already available in the home. Indoor gardening also provides the opportunity to enjoy vegetables year-round. The instructor discussed five steps to start an indoor garden and shared a list of vegetables and herbs that grow well indoors in pots. The vegetables included carrots, lettuce, spinach, mushrooms, onions, garlic, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. The herbs included sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, oregano tarragon, coriander, basil, parsley, and peppermint. The lists helped fulfill objective four to identify vegetables and herbs that can grow indoors. Furthermore, the participants engaged in a conversation concerning vegetables they liked to eat, the many uses for herbs, the names in English and Spanish, if they grew in their country of origin, and shared memories about eating them. This conversation confirmed that the vegetables and herbs were culturally relevant to them. Activity #5 Indoor Garden demonstration At last, the instructor showed the participants her indoor garden to give them a visual representation of its appearance. The instructor talked about why she selected the indoor location, the types of containers used, where to purchase them, and the vegetables and herbs she Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 16 grew in her indoor garden. The participants commented on the kind of containers and shared information about where to buy the containers. Activity #6 Evaluation The instructor reviewed the objectives and gave the participants an oral quiz to test their knowledge to close the workshop. The instructor asked participants to share two health benefits of gardening, two accommodations for physical limitations, list the steps to create an indoor garden, and provide the names of two herbs and two vegetables that can grow indoors. The participants also received a handout created by the instructor that contained the information shared in the PowerPoint (See Appendix C2). Also, the USU extension donated the booklet Creaciones en la Cocina para comer juntos en Familia Latin Edition that contains healthy recipes with fruits and vegetables relevant to Latin/Hispanic Families. The booklet was mailed to the participants’ homes a few days after the workshop. Measurement Participants filled out the program evaluation survey in Spanish that included demographic questions to identify if the target audience (55 and older living in Utah) was reached by asking county of residence and age. In addition, the evaluation also helped the instructor evaluate if the objectives were met. At last, the evaluation included a few questions concerning the information discussed, activities, and handouts that were shared during the workshop for the participants to provide feedback (See Appendix D2) via survey link and Q.R. code during the workshop. After the workshop, the survey link was emailed. Results Six individuals participated in the workshop, five female and one male between the ages of 58 - 70 years old. Three participants lived in Washington County, one participant was from Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 17 Utah County, and two participants did not provide information about their county of residence. Four participants indicated they participated in the workshop because the instructor invited them; the other two did not indicate how they learned about it. The instructor asked the participants to introduce themselves and share why they were interested in gardening at the beginning of the workshop. The purpose of the activity was to understand the participant's interests and needs related to gardening as recommended in the Andragogy of Learning by Knowles (Knowles, 1973). Participants indicated that they wanted to learn about gardening, start an indoor garden, grow herbs in the home, and be prepared for Utah weather. Four participants completed the evaluation. One participant left the workshop early, failed to complete the evaluation, and made it impossible to ascertain how he found out about the workshop. Another participant did not fill out the evaluation because she had problems with audio; she did not hear enough information from the workshop to provide meaningful feedback. Of the participants who completed the evaluation, 50% considered themselves gardeners, and 50% did not. However, 50% of the participants indicated that they wanted to start growing herbs in the home, 25% wanted to care for house plants, and 25% wanted to have an outdoor garden. All participants (100%) indicated that they felt confident that they could make accommodations if they have physical limitations to continue gardening and that gardening would help them stay healthy and engaged in physical activity. In addition, participants (100%) indicated that the workshop met their expectations. Furthermore, they enjoyed the information provided by the instructor (100%), the interactions with each other (75%), the presenter’s enthusiasm (75%), and the handouts and flyers (25%). Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 18 During the workshop, the participants shared their interest in what they would like to grow. One participant wanted to grow herbs indoors; she found them useful for cooking and teas. A second participant wanted to grow vegetables indoors because she could no longer grow an outdoor garden. The rest of the participants wanted to learn general information about gardening. The participants provided additional comments concerning the workshop. One of the participants said, "Thank you for the knowledge shared and for offering programs that help us be better." Another participant commented, “I enjoyed all the information and the concepts to start an indoor garden.” They were excited to receive the brochure with healthy recipes; as one participant mentioned, “I am looking forward to trying out the recipes.” Discussion Summary of Findings The Gardening at Any Age workshop was developed to address the growing need for health education programs that target Hispanic Older Adults experiencing health challenges such as chronic health conditions. Gardening is proposed to help older adults engage in healthy behaviors such as consuming fruits and vegetables and engaging in physical activity to reduce the risk of developing chronic health conditions. Many health education programs help Hispanics improve their nutrition and engage in physical activity. However, not all programs incorporate gardening as an effective way to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. Furthermore, the nutrition education programs available towards Hispanics are not exclusive to Hispanic Older Adults making this workshop unique to other programs available. The workshop Gardening at Any Age addresses the need to create health education programs exclusive for Hispanic older adults in Spanish by raising awareness about the benefits Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 19 of gardening to encourage participants to garden leading to healthy behaviors such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and engaging in physical activity. In addition, the workshop included information about making accommodations for physical limitations to empower Hispanic Older Adults to recognize if it becomes challenging to continue gardening. Also, the workshop gave them tools to make accommodations to continue gardening even with limitations—another feature of this workshop. All participants indicated that the workshop met their expectations verbally and via the post-intervention evaluation survey. It is relevant to mention that the recruitment of participants was conducted through various methods phone calls, emails, newsletters, and social media with reminders via text message. However, the process that yielded the most participants was phone calls. The focus should be more phone calls for future workshop recruitment efforts instead of other methods. Also, four of the participants who attended already had a relationship with the instructor; this is important because establishing a relationship with the community helps recruit past participants, helping them stay actively participating with the organization in other activities offered. The workshop can be implemented in-person and virtually to accommodate the needs of the community and the organization. The in-person workshop provides an opportunity for senior centers to deliver programming for this diverse group that is culturally relevant and in Spanish. This workshop can help senior centers reach out to this community, especially in areas with a high Hispanic population. It also provides the opportunity for some older adults to learn more about the senior centers as they visit to participate in the workshop. In addition, an in-person workshop offers an opportunity for older adults to socialize and connect with others before the Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 20 class while attending and after the workshop. It allows them to engage with hands-on activities and receive print materials that otherwise might be hard to open or print in electronic format. The virtual workshop allows older adults from remote areas who might not have Spanish programs to join. In addition, a virtual workshop limits exposure to the COVID-19 virus. It can reach older adults who might not attend the senior center because of lack of transportation or physical limitations. It can also get older adults new to the organization offering the workshop or do not know about senior centers. The virtual workshop also allows participants to engage in conversation while engaging in the activities provided during the workshop and share knowledge and tips. To recruit participants outside the SLCo senior centers, the instructor recruited participants via Facebook event, which generated the interest of some individuals; she provided a phone number for calls or text messages and an email address to register to attend. However, this did not work because individuals interested in participating communicated by sending a Facebook message to the instructor to notify their interest in the workshop. The instructor did not anticipate this contact through her personal Facebook account and continued communication with the participants via Facebook messenger. However, the Facebook messenger may be potential participants’ preferred communication method for future workshops promotion. Knowing this, creating and providing an organizational or professional Facebook page would be more functional than posting the event on a personal Facebook page. Furthermore, the instructor wanted to make the evaluation survey convenient, so she offered two ways to submit it: 1) a link shared in the zoom chat and 2) a Q.R. code placed in the last slide of the PowerPoint. This way, the participants could access the evaluation through their phone or computer. However, all the participants used their phones to view and participate in the Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 21 workshop, held on Zoom. If they clicked on the link or opened their camera to scan the Q.R. code, there was a chance that they could not return to the zoom meeting, so they decided not to access the evaluation at the end of the workshop. A couple of days later, the instructor sent a thank you email for participating in the workshop. Since evaluations still needed to be filled out, she included the link for the evaluation; this led to two participants submitting the survey with the link. The instructor called one of the participants, who asked the instructor to read the questions, and the instructor recorded the participant’s responses. The last participant was reminded via text message, and she submitted the evaluation. In anticipation of challenges collecting the evaluation, the instructor recommends having a registration, helping the instructor keep track of all the participants before and after the workshop, and enabling the collection of evaluations even from participants who could not submit one because they leave the workshop. For future workshops, it would be best to discover in advance what type of electronic device will be used, to identify potential troubleshooting solutions, and the best way to send out the survey. Limitations The Gardening at Any Age workshop was offered through the Zoom platform because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, it may have limited the number of participants, as some older adults did not have technology accessibility or knew how to use it. Even with some participants able to connect to the workshop, there were still technology challenges such as audio, not seeing the instructor through the screen, or not seeing the slides presented. The technology challenges were frustrating for one of the participants, and they left early for these reasons. The Zoom format also limited the interactions among the facilitator and participants. An Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 22 in-person workshop would have encouraged sharing and socialization before and after the workshop. One of the lessons learned is to allow time before the workshop to test participants’ audio, camera, and connection. The instructor can offer a time to practice the day before the workshop or 30 minutes before the workshop starts to help participants be involved while in the workshop. Also, sending an instructional sheet about how to use the platform (Zoom, WebEx, Facebook live, etc.) will help them prepare ahead of time and practice independently. The instructor can send out the instructional sheet with the registration confirmation email. In addition, the instructor had initially planned to do a planting activity with the participants to help them start an indoor garden. The instructor intended to provide supplies for the participants to plant during the workshop. However, due to pandemic safety restrictions, the activity was changed to a demonstration done by the instructor, where the participants could only observe. Even though the participants appreciated this activity as indicated in the evaluation, it did not foster socialization the way an in-person workshop would. Recommendations for future research The instructor recommends for future application of this program to offer it in person. As stated earlier, the Gardening at Any Age workshop was designed for implementation in the senior centers that wish to reach out to Hispanic older adults by providing culturally relevant programming in Spanish that is appealing to this diverse group. Senior centers would need to connect with the community, develop a relationship, and extend an invitation in Spanish as the instructor recommended to do so over the phone. The senior centers can allocate resources for the workshop by partnering with community gardens, local nurseries, or home improvement Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 23 stores that can provide donations of gardening supplies or purchase at a discount after the gardening season to prepare for the workshop at a later season. A hands-on experience will allow additional socialization among the participants and the instructor. The instructor also recommends that in a future workshop implementation, tools to make gardening accommodations for physical limitations should be displayed for participants to explore and test while in the class. In addition, an in-person class will offer a hands-on gardening opportunity while attending the workshop and provide supplies to get them started with their indoor garden. Furthermore, expanding the workshop into a series of workshops allows further discussion on the included topics. One session can have extended information about accommodations for physical limitations, safety tips, and how to prevent falls while gardening into a session. Adding a demonstration of stretches and warm-up exercises before or after gardening can expand this session even further. Also, expanding on the topic of growing herbs indoors, including their uses, medicinal properties, and the benefits of cooking with them, can be discussed during another session. Another session can expand on planting indoor or outdoor gardening and include information about fruits. Another recommendation is to follow up with the participants a month after the workshop to find out if they started growing a garden or if any challenges kept them from gardening and how to address them. The Gardening at Any Age workshop can be offered at the start of the gardening season to encourage participants to start gardening and provide them with the initial steps to get ready for gardening or at the end of the gardening season to help them continue gardening indoors. Additionally, it may be beneficial to use validated scales to measure fruit and Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 24 vegetable intake, physical activity, and knowledge about gardening before and after the workshop. Conclusion The Gardening at Any Age is a workshop exclusively for Hispanic older adults in Spanish that encourages healthy behaviors through gardening to address the gap found in research. It also contains information about starting an indoor garden, which can benefit older adults with limited space and have a garden throughout the year. Further, it provides the opportunity to enjoy homegrown vegetables to consume nutrient-dense diets at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, it includes accommodations of physical limitations and safety information to prevent injuries while gardening to help participants continue gardening despite physical limitations. The Gardening at Any Age can be implemented in-person at senior centers and virtually, allowing reach to Hispanic older adults by providing a culturally appropriate, in Spanish program for a diverse group. Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 25 References ACL. (2017). Profile of Hispanic Americans age 65 and over. Washington, D.C.: The Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Algert, S., Diekmann, L., Renvall, M., & Gray, L. (2016). Community and home gardens increase vegetable intake and food security of residents in San Jose, California. California Agriculture, 70(2), 77–82. https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.v070n02p77 Carney, P. A., Hamada, J. L., Rdesinski, R., Sprager, L., Nichols, K. R., Liu, B. 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Retrieved from Teaching Excellence in Adult Learning: https://lincs.ed.gov/sites/default/files/11_%20TEAL_Adult_Learning_Theory.pdf Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults 27 Taxonomy of Significant Learning. (2018, November 13). The Peak Performance Center. https://thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/thinking/bloomstaxonomy/taxonomy-of-significant-learning/ Washington State University Master Gardeners. (n.d.). Gardening for Life a Guide to garden adaptations for gardeners of all abilities (1st ed.). Washington State University. Retrieved from https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2015/12/GFL-booklet-complete.pdf U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (2nd Edition). https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physicalactivity/physical-activity-guidelines K. (2021, November 1). Best Vegetables to Grow Indoors. Earth Friendly Tips. https://earthfriendlytips.com/best-vegetables-to-grow-indoors/ M. (2019, July 18). Vegetales Para Cultivar Junto a los Tomates. Trucos De Jardineria. https://trucosdejardineria.com/vegetales/vegetales-para-cultivar-junto-a-los-tomates/ Oxfam, E. (2021, May 26). Cómo hacer un huerto en casa con poco espacio. Ingredientes que Suman. https://blog.oxfamintermon.org/como-hacer-un-huerto-en-casa-con-pocoespacio/ 28 Appendix A1, Spanish Recruitment Flyer ¿Eres jardinero o quieres iniciarte en la jardinería? Si tienes 55 años o más, te identificas como hispano, hablas Español, y vives en el estado de Utah, ¡Te invitamos! • Taller de jardinería de una hora y media en español • Información para empezar tu propio jardín • Complete una breve encuesta después del taller Qué: Jardinería a cualquier Edad es un taller virtual para aprender sobre los beneficios de la jardinería, identificar frutas y verduras que crecen localmente, y como seguir cultivando a pesar de limitaciones físicas relacionadas con la edad. Ubicación: Zoom Cuando: viernes 15 de octubre, 2021 Hora: de 6:00-8:00 pm Acerca de mi: Mí nombre es Erika soy estudiante de la Universidad de Utah en el programa Interdisciplinario de Maestría en Gerontología; apoyar este taller me ayudará a graduarme en el mes de diciembre. Soy de la Ciudad de México y vivo en Utah con mi esposo y mis hijos. Disfruto de la jardinería, salir a caminar y pasar tiempo con mi familia. Registrarse: Llamando o texto a Erika a el [phone] o correo electrónico u0804603@ umail.utah.edu 29 Appendix A2, English Recruitment flyer Are you a gardener or want to start gardening? If you are 55 years or older, identify as Hispanic, speak Spanish, and live in the State of Utah, We Invite You to Join! • One an half hour Spanish speaking gardening workshop • Handouts to help you start your own garden • Fill out a short survey after the workshop What: Gardening at any Age is a virtual workshop to learn about the benefits of gardening, will be sharing helpful information for growing a garden, identify cultural relevant vegetables grow in the area, and learn practical accommodations for physical limitations. Location: Zoom When: Friday October 8, or Friday October 15, 2021 Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm About: Hola; my name is Erika I am a student at the University of Utah in the Masters of Gerontology Interdisciplinary program; supporting this workshop will help me graduate from the program in December. I am from Mexico City and live in Utah with my husband and kids. I enjoy gardening, walks, and spending time with my family. To register: Call or Text Erika [phone] Email: u0804603@ umail.utah.edu 30 Appendix B Outline for Gardening at any Age workshop Objectives: Participants will: 1. discover at least two health benefits of gardening 2. gain skills to grow an indoor garden 3. recognize at least two fruits or vegetables that are culturally relevant that grow in the area 4. identify at least two age-related accommodations to engage in gardening if there are any physical limitations Activity 1: Introductions (15 minutes) o Participants will introduce themselves and share their experience with gardening or why they would like to start gardening Activity 2: Benefits of gardening activity (15 minutes) o Participants will brainstorm the benefits of gardening o The instructor will discuss the results of brainstorm and add additional gardening benefits Activity 3: Accommodations to gardening with physical limitations (10 minutes) o The instructor will explain accommodations to be made while gardening o Participants share tips and tricks to garden when limitations Activity 4: Gardening indoors (10 minutes) o The instructor will discuss how to start an indoor garden and the types of vegetables that are grown indoors o The instructor will discuss what types of fruits and vegetables grow well indoors Break: 5 minutes Activity 5: Planting Demonstration (15 minutes) o The instructor will demonstrate how to plant an indoor herb garden Activity 6: Evaluation (10 minutes) Participants will provide an evaluation of the workshop 31 Appendix C1, Spanish Handout pg. 1 La jardinería incluye cuidar plantas de casa, crecer flores y plantas afuera de la casa, tener un huerto, crecer frutas o verduras adentro de la casa, crecer hierbas aromáticas o hierbas medicinales, crecer un jardín de flores o plantar árboles, admirar un jardín local disponible en la comunidad, o disfrutar de un jardín terapéutico. Beneficios a la salud por hacer jardinería • Ayuda a mantenerse activo y a seguir moviendo el cuerpo • Ayuda a incrementar el consumo de frutas y verduras • Beneficios del sol • Ayuda a reducir el estrés y la ansiedad • Mantener una mente activa • Socialización si se practica en la comunidad • Ayuda a reducir el costo de comida • Acceso a vegetales y frutas durante el año • Puede crecer frutas y verduras que son de su país de origen o cultura Acomodaciones que puedes hacer para seguir cultivando 1. Ponga las macetas o el huerto cerca de la casa para que sea más accesible 2. Mantenga herramientas cerca para tener acceso fácil y cerca de usted 3. Plante su huerto o coloque sus macetas cerca de su acceso al agua 4. Ten unas sillas accesibles en el huerto 5. construye camas para el jardín elevadas, para acceder sentada o parada y reducir cuantas veces se agacha 6. Plante de forma vertical, para reducir agacharse o hincarse en el piso 10 consejos para prevenir un accidente o lastimarse 1. No levante contenedores pesados 2. Levante el objeto con las piernas no con la espalda 3. Utilice carretillas para moverse objetos siempre que estén posible 4. Use zapatos cómodos, con buen suporte y póngase un sombrero 5. Use una silla o banco cuando sea necesario o un colchón para las rodillas y la espalda 6. Tenga el camino accesible y plano para prevenir caídas 7. Trabajen en el jardín temprano antes de que este caliente, y tengan agua para beber 8. Tome descanso y tenga un teléfono, o silbato disponible si necesita pedir ayuda 9. Haga ejercicios de estiramiento y calentamiento antes de empezar a trabajar en el jardín 10. Use herramientas adaptadas para hacer el trabajo más fácil 32 Appendix C1, Spanish Handout pg. 2 Como comenzar un huerto en la casa 1. Escoge un lugar que tenga luz y acceso a agua 2. Escoge un envase o contenedor para crecer las plantas o verduras 3. Escoge tierra para tus macetas 4. Escoge tus hierbas, verduras o plantas 5. Asegúrate de proporcionar agua a tus plantas Hierbas aromáticas o medicinales que puedes crecer en casa Hierbas aromáticas son muy fáciles de crecer juntas y en macetas. Estas hierbas son buenas para tes o para sazonar las comidas. Estas son las hierbas que puedes crecer juntas en una maceta: salvia, tomillo, romero, mejorana, orégano, estragón, cilantro, albahaca, perejil Nota acerca de la menta: La menta crece en casa, en maceta, pero se tiene que plantar sola ya que le gusta regarse por toda la maceta. Vegetales que crecen bien en casa Si decides crecer vegetales adentro de la casa asegúrate de tener varias macetas grandes, o cajas de madera, también un lugar que reciba mucha luz y calor, y que puedas regar las macetas de una forma accesible. Un balcón también es un buen lugar para crecer estos vegetales. Acuérdate que estos vegetales no van a necesitar mucha agua, solo asegúrate que la tierra este húmeda. Zanahorias, algunas lechugas, hongos, cebollino, espinaca, ajo, pimientos y chiles, tomates, papas 33 Appendix C2, English Handout pg. 1 Gardening includes caring for house plants, growing flowers and plants outside the house, having a vegetable garden, growing fruits or vegetables inside the house, growing aromatic herbs or medicinal herbs, growing a flower garden, or planting trees, admiring a local garden available in the community, or enjoy a therapeutic garden The health benefits of gardening Accommodations to physical limitations • Helps you stay active and keep your body moving 1. Put the pots or garden near the house to make it • Helps to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables • If it takes place outside, it receives the benefits of the sun • Helps reduce stress and anxiety • Keep an active mind • Socialization if practiced in the community • Helps reduce the cost of food • Access to vegetables and fruits throughout the year • You can grow fruits and vegetables that are from your home country or culture more accessible 2. Keep tools close by for easy access and close to you 3. Plant your garden or place your pots near your access to water 4. Have accessible chairs in the garden 5. Build raised garden beds, to access sitting or standing and reducing how many times you bend over 6. Plant vertically, to reduce squatting or kneeling on the floor 10 tips to prevent injuries and falls 1. Don't lift heavy containers 2. Lift the object with your legs, not your back. 3. Use wheelbarrows to move objects whenever possible 4. Wear comfortable, well-supported shoes and put on a hat 5. Use a chair or bench when needed or a mattress for your knees and back. 6. Keep the path accessible and flat to prevent falls 7. Garden early before it's hot and have water to drink. 8. Take a break and have a phone or whistle available if you need to call for help. 9. Do stretching and warm-up exercises before you start gardening. 10. Use adapted tools to make the job easier 34 Appendix C2, English Handout pg. 2 How to start an indoor garden 1. Choose a place that has light and access to water 2. Choose a container or container to grow the plants or vegetables 3. Choose soil for your pots 4. Choose your herbs, vegetables, or plants 5. Make sure to provide water to your plants Aromatic herbs that you can grow at home Aromatic herbs are very easy to grow together and in pots. These herbs are good for teas or to season foods. Herbs that you can grow together in a pot: sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, oregano, tarragon, coriander, basil, parsley Note about mint: Mint grows at home, in a pot, but it has to be planted alone as it likes to spread throughout the pot. Vegetables that grow well indoors When growing vegetables indoors, make sure you have several large pots, or wooden boxes, also a place that receives a lot of light and heat. Remember that these vegetables will not need a lot of water, just make sure the soil is moist. Carrots, some lettuce, mushrooms, chives, spinach, garlic, bell peppers and chili peppers, tomatoes, potatoes. 35 Appendix D1, Spanish Evaluación del programa Jardinería a cualquier edad Responda las siguientes preguntas para evaluar la calidad de este programa Fecha: ___________________________ Edad: _________ En que condado vive _____________ ¿Como supo de este taller? o Redes Sociales o Llamada de Teléfono o La instructora me invito o Otra ¿Te consideras jardinero? ___Sí ___No ¿Empezara o continuara a plantar un jardín como resultado de atender este taller? ___Sí ___No ¿Qué clase de Jardín le gustaría empezar a cultivar como resultado de este taller? o Un huerto afuera de mi casa o Un huerto en la comunidad o Un jardín o huerto adentro de mi casa o Quiero empezar a crecer hierbas en casa o Solo quiero crecer plantas de casa Se siente confidente de que puede hacer acomodaciones si tiene limitaciones físicas para seguir creciendo un jardín ___Sí ___No Practicar la jardinería lo ayuda a mantenerse saludable y hacer actividad física ___Sí ___No Por favor, marque las actividades que disfruto más: o La información proveída en el taller o Las interacciones con otros o El entusiasmo del facilitador o Los volantes u otra información ¿El taller cumplió con sus expectativas? ___ Si ___ No ¿Si tiene comentarios adicionales escríbalos en estas líneas? ______________________________________________________________________________ Gardening at Any Age: A Gardening Workshop for Hispanic Older Adults Appendix D2, English Program Evaluation Survey Please answer the following questions to assess the quality of this program Date: ___________________________ Age: ___________ In which county do you live? _____________ How did you hear about this workshop? o Social Media o Phone Call o The facilitator invites me o Other Do you consider yourself to be a gardener? ___Yes ____No What type of gardening would you like to engage in as a result of attending this workshop? o An outdoor garden o A garden in a community garden o An indoor garden o Indoor herb garden o Care for home plants Do you feel confident that you can make accommodations if you have physical limitations to continue gardening? ___Yes ____No Will you continue or start a garden because of this workshop? ___Yes ___No Engaging in gardening can help me stay healthy and physically activity ___Yes ___No Which activities did you enjoy during the workshop? o The information provided in the workshop o The interactions with others during the workshop o The presenter's enthusiasm o The handouts and brochure Did the workshop meet your expectations? ___ Yes ___ No Do you have any additional comments? _________________________________________________________ 36