It Takes a Village & a FARMacy!

Ready for this? Doctors at El Rio Health Center are writing prescriptions for some of their patients to go to the farm-acy at Tucson Village Farms. FARMacy is designed to help prevent childhood obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other nutrition-deficit health problems. Once at the FARMacy, at-risk children and their parents go around the farm from one station to the next doing things like learning about sugary drinks, tending to the chickens or making healthy recipes. They really get to learn about healthy food: how to secure it, use it and cook it and make choices that enhance their health and well-being. And they have fun doing it! Join us to hear more about this model program that all of the partners involved are so passionate and excited about. The FARMacy Program and this show made possible due to the generous support of the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice, University of Arizona.

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INSIGHTS

In January 2017, the idea for FARMacy was sparked by a doctor’s visit to Tucson Village Farm (TVF).
60,000 vehicles travel past TVF everyday – it is an urban farm built by and for kids!
The TVF is a pay it forward farm – you plant something at the farm and eat something from the farm.
Many patients that work with El Rio Community Health Center can easily access TVF – and having access is a huge key for success.
What are the ripple effects to having children engaged with the process of gardening and cooking? What are items that kids love to make at TVF? What are a few of their favorite events at the farm? Listen to this podcast to hear more!
The initial draw for parents is that kids love the farm! Having access to a working farm creates a connection for children that can’t be duplicated in any other way.
What have been the positive outcomes of the FARMacy program in just one year? Listen to hear the good news!
Building a sense of community, within our families, can take place in the kitchen – learning how to grow our food and create meals together are impactful lessons with positive effects in our homes and with our health.
How can doctors serve patients outside of their offices and clinics? Our panel of guests provides insights into the current state of health in America and what they would like to propose we start doing to create change.
The FARMacy program is replicable and can be duplicated in other cities – ideas and suggestions are shared on this podcast.
Where does living healthy really start? Starting with a small, sustainable step is key…and we need to cook more and find balance between diet and exercise. Bottom line…creating health in your life does not start with a large step but simply changing the direction of what you are currently doing.
1 in 3 of Dr. Sadalla’s patients are obese – what factors are at play and what challenges do they face? How do the issues of climate change impact them? Mrs. Green offers insights on this podcast.
What are the “go, slow and whoa” drinks and foods concept? They have great concepts they are teaching at TVF and shifting the mindset (and thus behaviors and lives) of adults and children across the city of Tucson.
Making a connection with another human being and being pro-active by providing access to education and health is what this entire program is all about….creating a safe, healthy, sustainable, more fair community and planet for all. It takes a village – truly.