The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate a revised version of Ecosource's 26-week community garden program. This project aims to assess how community gardening can reduce type 2 diabetes risk and improve health outcomes among people aged 18 and older, who have type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetes risk factors, or interest in type 2 diabetes prevention. The project's objectives are to:

1. Co-design and deliver a revised 26-week program integrating type 2 diabetes education into Ecosource's community garden program.
2. Evaluate the program's impact on type 2 diabetes risk factors, including diet quality and physical activity, and its alignment with Mississauga's Healthy City Strategy by improving access to healthy foods and green spaces.
3. Share findings to inform future community gardening initiatives aimed at reducing type 2 diabetes risk and promoting health.

Participants will:

• Participate in a co-design focus group
• Complete 3 questionnaires about diet quality and T2D risk factors at baseline, 12 weeks, and 26 weeks.
• Participate in a photovoice project and focus group
• Participate in a post-implementation focus group

Ecosource's community garden program is highlighted in Mississauga's Healthy City Strategy as a key initiative to enhance access to affordable, healthy food at the neighbourhood level. With food insecurity increasing in Mississauga-evidenced by a 58% increase in visitors to the city's largest food bank from June 2023 to May 2024 and the subsequent declaration of a food insecurity emergency by City Council-urgent interventions are needed. Additionally, demand for community gardening has reached unprecedented levels, with over 2,000 people on the waitlist, a trend likely exacerbated by rising housing and food costs. Food insecurity is also a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes making the case for initiatives that address food access as a health promotion strategy. A healthful diet and lifestyle are the cornerstones of chronic disease prevention. Community gardening programs have emerged as a strategy to improve diet quality especially when paired with nutrition education. In addition, Ecosource's program has a proven history of engaging residents, including in priority neighbourhoods where type 2 diabetes prevalence exceeds the provincial average. The majority of Ecosource's garden sites are in public parks within these communities, including Malton and areas along the western Hurontario corridor. Gardens in these areas have some of the longest waitlists across our network, indicating a high interest in gardening in these neighbourhoods. Since 2006, Ecosource has built partnerships to reduce barriers to gardening access, engaging over 17 community partners annually. Survey data from program participants also indicates the program's readiness for further development and evaluation, with findings suggesting gardening offers co-benefits for food access, physical activity, community belonging, and mental health.

Therefore, this project aims to strengthen and evaluate the program's impact on promoting health in priority neighbourhoods, with a focus on type 2 diabetes prevention, while addressing the food insecurity crisis in Mississauga. The Evaluating Community Gardens as Environmental Health Interventions in Mississauga project aims to assess how community gardening can reduce type 2 diabetes risk and improve health outcomes in Mississauga's priority communities. Building on Ecosource's successful community garden program, this project explores community gardening as a strategy for improving diet quality and food access, both linked to type 2 diabetes prevention. The project is timely, given concerns over rising food insecurity following Mississauga's emergency declaration and the inclusion of community gardens in municipal health, food security, and climate resiliency plans.

Goals and Research Aims:

The research team will design, deliver and evaluate a revised version of Ecosource's community garden program, aiming to strengthen its effectiveness in preventing type 2 diabetes and promoting health. The program will engage 20-30 residents from priority areas, such as Malton and western Hurontario, in weekly sessions at Ecosource's gardens and teaching kitchen. The 26-week program will consist of weekly two-hour sessions.

The project's objectives are to:

1. Co-design and deliver a revised 26-week program integrating type 2 diabetes education into Ecosource's community garden program.
2. Evaluate the program's impact on type 2 diabetes risk factors, including diet quality and physical activity, and its alignment with Mississauga's Healthy City Strategy by improving access to healthy foods and green spaces.
3. Share findings to inform future community gardening initiatives aimed at reducing type 2 diabetes risk and promoting health.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Have an interest in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) prevention OR have a diagnosis of T2D or have risk factors for T2D.
• Should not have any chronic disease that could affect participation in the study
• Not currently participating in another trial/research study (other than the current one)
• Must be a resident of Mississauga

Exclusion Criteria:

• People under 18 years
• Has a Chronic disease that could affect participation in the study
• Currently participating in another trial/research study (other than the current one)
• Not a resident of Mississauga