Why people grow food

Posted by John Walker on May 16, 2008 at 9:25am in Food for thought

In the latest edition of the touch the soil was an article about the reasons people grow food by Robin Kortright.
This is a summary of what was found about why people garden
1. Cook’s gardens The most common type of food garden among the respondents interviewed, cultivated in order to assure access to a variety of pesticide-free, fresh and flavourful produce.
2. Teaching gardens Generally small scale and diverse food gardens cultivated by parents in order to encourage children to interact with and respect the natural world and to make eating fresh produce exciting and enjoyable for children.
3. Environmental gardens Food gardens cultivated to reduce the household’s environmental footprint by growing locally, using organic methods, and conserving water. These gardens were generally fairly substantial in size in order to provide as much as possible for the household’s needs.
4. Hobby gardens These were gardens in which food was cultivated as a hobby, for the pleasure and satisfaction of caring for the plants. Generally these gardens were substantial in size and included a wide variety of crops.
5. Aesthetic gardens These gardens included a small amount of food, cultivated as much for the beauty of the food plants as the harvest they might produce.

The website for the research is here and if you go to #9 you can download the pdfs
http://www.utoronto.ca/cuhi/research/foodrig.html

The summary is only 4 pages long and the report is larger and the final report is 147 pages. But there are a list of the questions, and consent forms. For those people interested in promoting food this might be an interesting starting point for a community action,
The contact information is below
Robin Kortright, Master of Arts 2007, Department of Geography, University of Toronto Tel: 416-835-2832, Email: robin.kortright@utoronto.ca.

Sarah Wakefield, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Toronto Tel: 416-978-3653, Email: sarah.wakefield@utoronto.ca.

This research was conducted with the support of the Centre for Urban Health Initiatives (CUHI) at the University of Toronto. For more information please see: http://www.cuhi.utoronto.ca/.
pax
John

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Penelope on May 16, 2008 at 10:03am: It doesn't much matter what kind of food garden it is, somebody eventually eats the stuff, and somebody plants and pulls weeds and harvests. It's all about humans and their relationship to the food they consume. We like Farmer's Markets because we're hunter/gatherers at heart -- and maybe that's why my yard resembles a jungle--it's an inherent desire for prehistoric satisfaction . . .; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Walker on May 16, 2008 at 10:16am: While that's true, I think part of the research goal was to understand why people grow food, and armed with the knowledge, be able to construct initiatives to promote food gardening. I think the more we (as promoters of gardening) know about why and how people garden the better job we can do in tailoring our presentations, resources etc.
This aspect is one of the tenets of KGI, promoting food grown at home.
pax
John; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Penelope on May 16, 2008 at 12:30pm: When the grocery stores are empty or sparsely stocked, when water stops coming out of the tap, when there is no gasoline. . .habits will change dramatically.

I think I can harvest a few spinach leaves this weekend. . .I'm excited.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brook on May 16, 2008 at 12:36pm: John,

Are farmers not considered people? I don't see anything about money (or its eqivalent) as a reason to grow food.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Walker on May 16, 2008 at 12:46pm: Well, of course they are... ( resisting a cythral comment)
The original study title was
Edible Backyards Pilot project; A study of residential land use for food production in Toronto.
In Appendix C (Sharing of produce) no mention is made of selling.
It seems that this was a small scale study 125 initial surveys, with 23 in depth surveys.
I haven't read the whole questionnaire, so moneies may be mentioned somewhere.
Actually my son does grow money for food with 50% going to charity, and I know of one other family who have put their kids to work based on Gareth's experience (they get to keep 100%, much to Gareth's chagrin)

If I can extract the data, I will follow up.
pax
John; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Penelope on May 16, 2008 at 12:57pm: I just got an email from a gardening friend here in Idaho who wonders why she bothers since she estimates a salad costs her $25 by the time she buys seed, compost, water, etc. I think she's exaggerating, but still . . .; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Walker on May 16, 2008 at 1:27pm: Dear Penelope,
Offer to supply her with lettuce for $20........; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Penelope on May 16, 2008 at 2:10pm: John, She lives far enough away that it would take a tank of gas to get it to her, and that's about $50 right now.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Penelope on May 18, 2008 at 10:11am: Maybe the question isn't so much why people grow food, as why are so many people hostile to the concept? Ordinances restricting front yard good gardens, neighbors angry about fruit tree "mess" and "ugly" tomato towers. A friend's father stole into a neighbor's yard and sprayed herbicide all over their grape arbor because he didn't like the looks of it. Does this kind of sabotage go on regularly? Why does sentiment side with dog packs who tear up rabbit hutches over the food the rabbits represent? Why are cats and squirrels "cute" and shouldn't be restricted from digging up a vegetable garden? For many in the world, if a garden is destroyed, people don't eat. American prosperity fosters the most blatant and unforgiveable ignorance . . .; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ian on May 18, 2008 at 1:31pm: Neighbours of my relations in Maine cut down a 30 year old fruit tree in my relations' garden because it spoiled their view. However, the view was only created about a year ago when they built a balcony on their bedroom. It's the same in Europe, people have become so very selfish and make no consideration for others.
Ian; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kristin W. on May 19, 2008 at 8:33am: Ian,

Just wondering what the consequence was (if any) for the cutting down of the tree? And wondering hypothetically what the consequence would be for removing the neighbor's balcony. I'm not promoting retaliation, just guessing that the cutting down of the tree would not be viewed as that big of a deal by the powers that be, as would the "cutting down" of the balcony. People's sense of entitlement often astounds me.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brook on May 19, 2008 at 8:46am: I wouldn't be so quick to indict the powers that be, Kristin. The list of civil and criminal violations is rather long, given the circumstances as Ian described. Among them:

1. Criminal trespass.
2. Reckless endangerment (if they actually cut it themselves).
3. Willful destruction of private property.
4. Felony theft.
5. Vandalism

These are all taken very seriously in most jurisdictions. And, given today's green consciousness, are even more likely to result in both criminal prosection and upper limit civil penelties.; ▶ Reply to This