Along with the physical benefits of gardening, the participants have an opportunity to engage in social support with their Master Gardner in a mentor-mentee relationship.

Master Gardeners are volunteers who complete 50 hours of specialized training and 50 hours of volunteer work with the Alabama Cooperative Extension in order to expand its outreach mission to educate their communities. When offered the opportunity to work with cancer survivors, 80 percent of Master Gardeners wanted to participate. These volunteers are at the heart of the Harvest for Health study, working closely as mentors to their paired survivors to grow successful vegetable gardens.