Lessons from My Grandmother’s Garden: Intergenerational Learning and Managing Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Researchers suggest that grandmothers are often the invisible support helping to maintain the health and well-being of the family and community [2]. Studies have explored the important role that grandmothers play in the well-being of families over time [3]. “Learning family” is a concept focused on how family learning, between grandparents and grandchildren, can lead to mutual respect and life-long learning across the generations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a research project in China has explored ways that family learning activities can lead to skill development for both grandparents and grandchildren [4]. Industrialization has transformed family roles, including those of grandparents. One outcome has been delocalization and a decrease in grandmother’s involvement in extended family learning [5]. During the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a growing interest in traditional sustainable practices in the home. Lockdowns provide an opportunity for informal learning practices associated with food preparation, health promotion, and illness management. While not all elders have an interest in growing food, for those who do, the knowledge and skills they may have gained in early life, can now serve to promote positive intergenerational learning experiences [6]. By adopting the role of keeper of sustainable practices in the home— such as gardening, cooking, fermenting, canning, and more—many grandmothers can take on the vital role of intergenerational teacher and mentor [7].