Alyssa Beavers
My current research focuses on two areas: gardening and food security. I research urban gardening as a health promotion strategy, examining both the health impacts of gardening as well as factors that influence maintenance of gardening. This research uses a community-based participatory research approach, partnering with local gardening organizations throughout the research process. I also examine the relationship between food security and aspects of diet quality, food purchasing and other means of food procurement.
Research interest(s)/area of expertise
Urban gardening, food security, community-based participatory research.
Education
- Ph.D. in Human Nutrition, Michigan State University
- Dietetic Internship: Iowa State University
- M.S. in Nutritional Science, Iowa State University
News mentions
- Michigan lawmakers want to stop people from using SNAP benefits to buy pop
- In new study, community stakeholders identify Detroit’s greatest health equity challenges
Selected publications
- Alaimo K, Coringrato E, Lacy K Hebert JR, Beavers AW. Caretaking, accomplishment and connection to nature: The ‘gardening triad’and its role in new community gardeners' engagement, and social and emotional well‐being. People and Nature. 2024. doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10696
- Bu S, Beavers AW, Sugino KY, Keller SF, Alaimo K, Comstock SS. Influence of compost amendments on soil and human gastrointestinal bacterial communities during a single gardening season. Microorganisms. 2024;12 (5). doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12050928
- Beavers AW, Kennedy AO, Blake JP, Comstock SS. Development and evaluation of food preservation lessons for gardeners: Application of the DESIGN process. Public Health Nutrition. 2023;27(1). doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023002926
- Gilleran MM, Koosis AO, Hill AB, Beavers AW. A qualitative examination of the Detroit community food response to COVID-19. Nutrients. 2023;15(13):3047. doi.org/10.3390/nu15133047
- Alaimo K, Beavers AW, Coringrato E, Lacy KM, Ma W, Hurley TG, Hébert JR. Community gardening increases vegetable intake and seasonal eating from baseline to harvest: Results from a mixed methods randomized controlled trial. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2023;7(5). doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100077
- Sachs S, Tharrey M, Darmon N, Alaimo K, Boshara A, Beavers A, Litt J. “To me, it's just natural to be in the garden”: A multi-site investigation of new community gardener motivation using Self-Determination Theory. Wellbeing, Space, and Society. 2022; 3. doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2022.100088
- Beavers AW, Atkinson A, Varvatos LM, Connolly M, Alaimo K. How gardening in Detroit influences physical and mental health. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2022, 19(13), 7899; doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137899
- Niles MT, Beavers AW, Clay LA, et al., A Multi-Site Analysis of the Prevalence of Food Insecurity in the United States, before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2021; 5(12). doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab135
- Litton MM, Beavers AW. The relationship between food security status and fruit and vegetable intake during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutrients. 2021; 13(3):712. doi.org/10.3390/nu13030712
- Beavers AW, Atkinson A, Ma W, Alaimo K. Garden characteristics and types of program involvement associated with sustained garden membership in an urban gardening support program. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2021; 59:127026. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127026
- Gascon M, Harrall KK, Beavers AW, et al. Feasibility of collection and analysis of microbiome data in a longitudinal randomized trial of community gardening. Future Microbiology. 2020; 15(8):633-648. doi:10.2217/fmb-2019-0195
- Beavers AW, Atkinson, A, & Alaimo K. How gardening and a gardener support program in Detroit influence participants’ diet, food security, and food values. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. 2020; 15(2). doi:10.1080/19320248.2019.1587332
- Alaimo K, Beavers AW, Crawford C, Hodges Snyder E, & Litt JS. Amplifying health through community gardens: A framework for advancing multicomponent, behaviorally based neighborhood interventions. Current Environmental Health Reports. 2016; 3, doi: 10.1007/s40572-016-0105-0