Is Gardening Feasible for Inclusion Into a Diabetes Intervention Project Among a Native American Tribe in Northwest New Mexico?

Native Americans experience type-2 diabetes at four times the rate of the general U.S. population.  Limited fruit and vegetable intake, poor access to nutritious foods in rural areas, shifts away from traditional diets, and reduced exercise habits are cited as causes for the rise.  Poor access to water and limited agronomic information has also been noted by Native Americans residing in the semi-arid southwest.  Garden projects have successfully addressed these issues on a grassroots scale because: 1) gardeners tend to adopt healthier dietary habits by consuming what they produce; 2) parents who garden are more likely to pass this knowledge onto their children; 3) gardening is well received by diabetic individuals as a form of physical activity; 4) gardening offers the potential to raise household income through savings on grocery requirements while providing marketing opportunities to individuals or groups. Yet, little research has been conducted to jointly demonstrate the health, horticultural, and economic benefits of gardening when incorporated into a diabetes intervention project. 

In 2008, a pre-pilot project was launched in Northwest New Mexico to determine feasibility in developing an intervention strategy using gardening as a means to reduce diet related illness in a predominately Navajo population.  The project was divided into two objectives: 1) identify key informants working in tribal, cooperative extension, municipal, Indian Health Services, institutional and educational units dealing with diabetes issues on and near the Navajo Nation; and 2) develop and pilot test culturally appropriate focus group interviews to determine buy-in among Navajo.  During focus group sessions, participants were asked questions like: Is gardening important to you? How do you think that your health could be improved by tending a garden? What problems or barriers do you encounter for farming/gardening in your community? Where might a garden be placed in your community (i.e. is a single community spot at a central space preferred? or is an individual garden at your home preferred?).  Focus group sessions were moderated by Navajo students who had been trained by project staff.   Interviews with key informants suggest the need for greater coordination on the Navajo Nation between public health officials, nutritionists, economists, and horticulturists to avoid duplicative efforts while allowing maximum access to gardens for interested Navajo people seeking to improve their health and income status.  Focus group transcripts indicate broad interest to include gardening into diabetes and cancer interventions with the added value of enhancing social capital in Navajo communities.