Assessing Potential Change in Louisiana Juvenile Detainee’s Knowledge and Attitude during Garden Programming

Abstract

University-based horticulture departments have explored the relationship between garden programs and increased horticulture knowledge among primary and secondary students. Studies have established positive correlations between youth garden programs and increased garden knowledge. The objective of this research was to determine if participation in a garden workshop series had positive effects on youth detained in juvenile detention centers garden-based knowledge and immediate mood. Participation led to a 17% increase in garden-based knowledge (P ? 0.05) and a positive shift in mood (P ? 0.05) on two of the three days of the workshop series. Based on this experience, we highly recommend juvenile detention centers incorporate garden programming as additional educational opportunities for detained youth.