title: Gardening practices in a rural village in South Africa 10 years after completion of a home garden project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have documented whether the behavior changes produced by home garden projects have been maintained after completion of the projects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the benefits and challenges affecting production and consumption of β-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits in a rural South African village 10 years after completion of a home garden project.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey assessed gardening practices and household consumption of β-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits using a questionnaire (n = 186). Benefits and challenges affecting production and consumption of β-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits were assessed through focus group discussions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine percent of the households currently planted β-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits. Major challenges included lack of fencing, animals eating crops, and lack or shortage of water. Planting materials for β-carotene-rich vegetables were sourced from the community nursery, while papaya was grown from its own seed. Shops were the most likely alternative sources of β-carotene-rich vegetables. The frequency of consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato, butternut, spinach, and papaya when in season differed significantly, with households planting β-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits having more frequent consumption than households not planting these vegetables and fruits. Households planting β-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits were perceived as "well-to-do" and "healthy" households and as "givers".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that 10 years after the endline evaluation of a home garden project, approximately one-third of the households in the village planted β-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits, which is very similar to the proportion at project completion and a postintervention study that was done 6 years later, despite various challenges, indicating that the practice of planting these vegetables and fruits was continued over the years.
authors.forename: Tisungeni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zimpita
authors.forename: Chara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faber
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D051639:Gardening / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D014801:Vitamin A; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A