Gardening for Health in a Changing World – Resources List
The Environment & Human Health:
CDC: Climate Effects on Health https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm Climate change, together with other natural and human-made health stressors, influences human health and disease in numerous ways. Some existing health threats will intensify and new health threats will emerge. Not everyone is equally at risk.
WHO: Health Topics – Climate Change https://www.who.int/health-topics/climate-change#tab=tab_1 Climate change is impacting human lives and health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health - clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter - and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health.
WHO: Biodiversity and Health https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/biodiversity-and- health Healthy communities rely on well-functioning ecosystems. They provide clean air, fresh water, medicines and food security. They also limit disease and stabilize the climate.
Health Benefits of Trees & Green Space https://www.treesdurham.org/research-citations.html Trees Durham is a local organization that has done a lot of work pulling together scientific research documenting some of the benefits seen in people who have access to plant life and healthy environments in different areas of their lives.
University of Washington: Green Cities Good Health http://depts.washington.edu/hhwb/ Metro nature - including trees, parks, gardens, and natural areas - enhance quality of life in cities and towns. The experience of nature improves human health and well-being in many ways. Nearly 40 years of scientific studies tell us how.
The Environmental Justice Movement https://www.nrdc.org/stories/environmental-justice- movement Environmental justice is an important part of the struggle to improve and maintain a clean and healthful environment, especially for those who have traditionally lived, worked and played closest to the sources of pollution.
Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance https://nativefoodalliance.org/ NAFSA supports Native communities nationally with advocacy, education, and networking as they revitalize their indigenous food systems.
Gardening:
USDA: Plant Hardiness Zone Map https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location.
Adaptive Gardening https://ngb.org/2019/10/02/10-adaptive-gardening-rules/ Adaptive gardening offers a myriad of ways for gardeners of all ages with a limited range of motion, wheelchair users, or anyone wanting to reduce stress on their joints, to identify what works for them in their garden according to their personal physical realities.
Bird-Friendly Gardening https://www.audubon.org/news/how-make-your-yard-bird-friendly-0 Grow a beautiful garden that provides a safe haven for birds in the face of climate change.
Pollinator Plant Lists https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/pollinator-friendly-plant-lists The Xerces Society has prepared the following lists of recommended native plants that are highly attractive to pollinators such as native bees, honey bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, and are well-suited for small-scale plantings in gardens, on business and school campuses, in urban greenspaces, and in farm field borders.
Companion Planting http://chemung.cce.cornell.edu/resources/companion-planting Plants, like people, influence one another. Some get along better together than others. Plant neighbor relationships might take several forms. First, they may improve the health or flavor of a companion. Second, they may interfere with the growth of a neighbor. Third, they may repel or trap an undesirable critter. Companion plant may also attract a beneficial insect.