Fall 2023 25 PHOTOS BY KARL MAASDAM, ’93 H E A L T H ence University that made the program a reality.An additional $100,000 grant from the Allen Foundation has allowed Hope Grows Here to continue into 2024. “Research shows the power of veg- etables in preventing or slowing down cancer,” Ho said. “We know vegetables like broccoli are great for that, but it’s a struggle to get people to eat it. We want to know how we can get the science full circle and help highrisk people like cancer survivors have an easier way to adopt these behaviors and stay healthy.” Their inspiration was the evidence- based Alabama Harvest for Health, a randomized study that measured whether cancer survivors adopted healthy behaviors after going through a garden mentoring program. Participants’ vegetable and fruit consumption increased by approximately one serving a day, more than 91% stayed in the program and 85% said they would do it again. Though Hope Grows Here is only in its second year,a survey of its participants has already shown improvement in their mental health, as well as increased physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption. According to Ho, the program is an e"ort to connect science with community.Aftercancertreatment,there is a gap in support. Survivors, who get so much contact with providers during treatment, are left on their own. “This is an opportunity to create peer support and one-to-one support,” she said.“Gardening hits lots of buckets in terms of health.” Participants don’t need to be beginner gardeners to join the program, said Janet Throop, a second-year mentor and 40-plus-year Master Gardener. Her mentee already knew a lot about gardening but really blossomed under Throop’s guidance. That was gratifying to Throop, who saw her pain and wanted to help. “She gained a lot of relaxation and benefits being out here and having the garden to escape from thinking about illness,” Throop said. On a mild spring morning, Ruggeri used the picnic table under the trees to chat with her mentor about the new-this-year get-togethers organized by Russo, who is happy to see the program expand.The gatherings represent what was intended in the first place: mentors and participants meeting in person to share their experiences and create community. The time seemed right for Ruggeri to get involved. She’d just finished treatment when she saw a flyer on a hospital bulletin board. After moving to Corvallis during the pandemic, she was anxious to make friends and thought the program would be a good way to connect. With her newfound relationship with Labbitt and the bi-monthly get-togethers, she’s on her way. This spring, 13 participants and 12 mentors joined Hope Grows Here, which encompasses Linn and Benton counties. The mentees started with a four-session beginning gardening course. Most got so much out of it that they decided to stay for the entire 20-week program. “Growing and eating fresh fruit and vegetables has a calming e"ect and reduces the anxiety of life,” said Rug- geri,who received a bucketful oftools, tomato cages, a beginning gardening book, fact sheets and topsoil from the program. “I go to the garden twice a week, if not more. It’s nice to have something growing and producing and to know I have a part in it going on the table.” To find out more about Hope Grows Here, visit beav.es/hopegrows. ↘Laurie Labbitt (left) and Carol Ruggeri share a moment in the garden. SHE GAINED A LOT OF RELAXATION AND BENEFITS BEING OUT HERE AND HAVING THE GARDEN TO ESCAPE FROM THINKING ABOUT ILLNESS.
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