Home and community gardening is emerging as a beneficial intervention for resettled refugee populations. This project used surveys and semi-structured interviews to examine whether gardening influences mental health, food security, and economic well-being among resettled refugees.

Findings showed gardeners reporting fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma, and less food insecurity than non-gardeners, and similar indicators of economic well-being.

In interviews, gardeners reported improved mental health, closer family, social relationships and connections with culture, and more access to fresh and organic food. The multiple, simultaneous benefits of gardening provide strong support for building community-based health promotion programs to assist refugee integration, including long after arrival.

The study further highlights the importance of examining the interrelated factors of mental health, food security, and economic well-being.