|
Post by Gianna on Dec 18, 2017 0:57:08 GMT -5
(This is a question, and today is a day - but this isn't the question of the day. )
Other than online, do you have friends, family, or neighbors who grow vegetables? Or flowers? More than obligatory lawn mowing.
When I think of all the people I know, very few keep a vegetable garden. One is a long-time friend and our bond is gardening. And my brother gardens (as did both of my parents) But other than that, there is one neighbor, another friend who sometimes keeps one small veg bed, and another who enjoys tending landscape plants. Almost no one grows flowers anymore either.
I start a lot of seeds, and often have extra starts to give away. I can successfully give away small tomato plants, and a mild pepper or two. But in general I'm surprised by how few take gardening seriously these days. Except for perhaps farm-folk, I fear gardening is becoming a lost art in non-rural areas. I don't know if this is just my impression, or what's actually happening.
Do you know many people who enjoy growing things?
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on Dec 18, 2017 9:57:26 GMT -5
I fear gardening is becoming a lost art in non-rural areas. I don't know if this is just my impression, or what's actually happening. No, I don't think that it's just your impression. I don't know many people who garden in non rural areas. Many of my neighbors have gardens but I live in a semi rural area and my neighbors are baby boomers. The younger generations do not seem as interested in gardens. My brother lives in a non rural area in DE and orders produce on amazon. I would NEVER do that! I do think, however, that sales of organic products, especially produce has increased hugely since all of the bad press about pesticide contamination and food borne illness in the past several years.
|
|
|
Post by paulf on Dec 18, 2017 10:30:16 GMT -5
Even in rural areas I think the gardening art is decreasing. The younger generation is more into instant gratification and have no patience or the ability for hard work not realizing the pleasure of growing their own food. The older gardeners are just that...getting too old. We are about as rural as it gets in I can count on one hand the number of vegetable gardens in my area.
|
|
|
Post by Laura_in_FL on Dec 18, 2017 10:58:30 GMT -5
I'm afraid that's true. Gardening does seem like a lost art. My kids certainly don't have any interest in it (other than eating what I grow). Since I live in the suburbs, a bunch of my neighbors even have lawn services so they don't even have to mow or keep up their landscaping.
I do know one younger guy (late 20s), one of DH's co-workers, who is starting to dabble in a little backyard gardening. Peppers, cucumbers, green beans, and dill. He likes spicy foods and pickled foods; his father apparently made killer Dilly Beans. So he wants to grow ingredients for those things.
My hairdresser used to have a container garden, but gave it up.
Other than that, the only people I know who actually garden are my aunts and uncles. They grew up on a farm, and they are all in their 60s and 70s.
But my sister has always liked plants. She's too busy now, but I suspect that she will at least grow some flowers, and tomatoes after she retires.
|
|
|
Post by september on Dec 18, 2017 11:11:30 GMT -5
I see a fair amount of flower and vegetable gardening in my location. Probably because most of the people who have retired or relocated to this remote lakes vacation area are already outdoorsy and have an appreciation for nature. Most of them do not expend as much effort at it as I do, but they have some flower beds and token gardens with a few tomatoes, beans and cucumbers. The closest small city has a very active garden club that gets a lot of local publicity for garden tours, plant sales and sprucing up streets and store fronts. Part of the old demolished high school was remodeled for the Boys and Girls Club Organization, and they have added a very large greenhouse. Unlike places with strict HOA's, there are no restrictions on where to put gardens, there is a tiered prairie garden in the front yard of one dental business on the main drag, and another person always has the most beautiful combination vegetable/flower garden growing right down to the sidewalk across from one of the busiest corners in town. It does appear to be mostly an older people thing -- but I wasn't really interested either until I was in my 30's and had become a home owner and settled into a more permanent location. Depends on your perspective too, one lady at work was appalled when I told her I enjoyed weeding in the evenings as a form of relaxation and meditation. She thought it was awful work that I should make my husband share.
|
|
|
Post by pepperhead212 on Dec 18, 2017 11:15:29 GMT -5
Very few, and definitely not large numbers of things. Many will plant flowers and various things in the spring, but usually it's a spring fever thing, then it's ignored the rest of the season. A guy at work that loves hot peppers like I do gets my extra seedlings, but even he reduced his garden size last season, working two jobs. He's the one I give those superhots to, after I "sample" them, and he makes hot sauce with them.
|
|
poppopt
Junior Member
Posts: 89
Joined: May 2017
|
Post by poppopt on Dec 18, 2017 11:36:00 GMT -5
I live in a pretty rural area. There are a few serious gardeners. But there are an awful lot of houses that have big grassy yards and plenty of room that grow either little or nothing in the way of food.
Food is cheap here, at least stuff that can be eaten. There are a lot of lazy people, even in the country, and it's a whole lot easier to go sign up for food stamps and just go collect the stuff they'll give you at a local grocery store. Those types will often come close to mocking people who actually grow a big garden. "Why would I do all that work when they'll give it to me?"
I hope to be able to grow a big garden again next year. It's been a few years and I want to very badly. I'm in a new location and the soil is pretty poor so I'm gonna try to do the best I can. Sure wish I had a little more good dirt to start with but I'm gonna try anyway.
|
|
|
Post by spike on Dec 18, 2017 12:00:06 GMT -5
Growing up there were gardens everywhere. If there was open land, there was a garden or cows or sheep etc. Now that most of my elders are gone, not so much. My cousin lives next door now and is starting a garden, my cousin down the road still has 2 garden plots and there is me! Most of the other neighbors have stopped. I almost had the kid up the road sucked into gardening but he graduated high school and got a job. Slipped though my fingers he did.
|
|
|
Post by ladymarmalade on Dec 18, 2017 12:47:15 GMT -5
I do. I live in a fabulous village with an ear turned towards sustainability and fit and healthy lifestyles. Home gardens are encouraged, and we also have several community gardens with waiting lists. We are permitted to have chickens and honeybees as well. I can stand in my backyard by my garden and look in both directions and see at least four neighbors with vegetables growing. My elderly neighbors who are beyond caring for a garden still purpose every year to tuck a few tomato plants into their landscaping. I do know a lot of people who will have a conversation with me about gardening, and they talk an awful lot about how they would love to be able to have a garden or they ask about how easy or hard some things are to grow. But the reality is that to them, what I do seems like an awful lot of work, and really, I know a lot of people who think carrots and green beans are pretty much the only vegetables worth eating. And lettuce should be iceberg- romaine is a bit to frou-frou as it is, forget about anything else in the lettuce family! I do think that home gardening is gaining traction. Slow traction, but I think there is a trend towards healthier eating now that is building, and that includes the ability to grow your own vegetables so you know exactly what you are eating.
|
|
|
Post by daylilydude on Dec 20, 2017 15:41:43 GMT -5
Well here in the small town we live in it's dying... when I moved here 25 years ago there were people that would set up a stand almost anywhere just to sell their veggies/fruit but as of right now they even built a place next to wallyworld just for this and in the last 5 or so years there may have been 1 or 2 that would even set up but didn't stay long a day or 2 at the most... And as far as any of my neighbors having a garden... not that I have seen or heard, the closet place would be the school and it's like 14 miles from here and they just put it in last year, so not much going on there either. it's really sad to me!
|
|
|
Post by paulf on Dec 21, 2017 11:23:05 GMT -5
In the county seat town of 3000 which is 10 miles from us, there are two competing farmer's markets. There are only a couple of produce vendors at each one. Mostly the sellers have baked goods and other non-gardening items. Both have tried to get me to sell my stuff, but that would be too much work for me to set up and spend an entire week-end for nothing. The booth costs are more than I could make and besides, I would rather do what I do: give it away. I take boxes of whatever I have to the local village Post Office and let whoever wants it take it.
|
|
aqua
Pro Member
Posts: 295
Zone:: 8b9a
Favorite Vegetable:: all of them
Joined: March 2012
|
Post by aqua on Dec 22, 2017 7:49:25 GMT -5
Really enjoyed reading the comments here. I know no one within 100 miles with a garden. Breaks my heart, I often have so many extra babies to share- tomatoes, cukes, beans- and no one to share with. I take them to work, and a few co-workers will take them. A few months later- "that tomato plant you gave me grew FIVE tomatoes!" they say with joy.... if they'd just given it love and attention, it could've easily had fifty, not five. So I am lonely and starved for gardening friends here where I live. I have shared seed w/folks all over the country, online folks from other blog sites... but none locally. paulf, I agree with you. Seems like if there's not an app for it, then people aren't interested.
|
|
|
Post by meandtk on Dec 22, 2017 8:06:04 GMT -5
I know few who garden, and only one who is younger than my 46 years of age. Growing up it seemed most folks around us gardened. Then we were a farming/bedroom community. Now we are more of a bedroom/retirement area. Many people moved here after Hurricane Katrina and changed our already swiftly changing demographic. Those city folks usually drive back to New Orleans for work, chase their children from one ball game to the next, or are retired and can't/won't work any longer. Sad indeed.
|
|
poppopt
Junior Member
Posts: 89
Joined: May 2017
|
Post by poppopt on Dec 22, 2017 8:21:39 GMT -5
I know few who garden, and only one who is younger than my 46 years of age. Growing up it seemed most folks around us gardened. Then we were a farming/bedroom community. Now we are more of a bedroom/retirement area. Many people moved here after Hurricane Katrina and changed our already swiftly changing demographic. Those city folks usually drive back to New Orleans for work, chase their children from one ball game to the next, or are retired and can't/won't work any longer. Sad indeed. Your mention of Hurricane Katrina made me wonder whether you're near our old stompin' grounds? The eye of Hurricane Katrina went right over our house in Slidell, LA. That's where we lived at the time. Before the storm, we did have an eye towards somewhere between Picayune and maybe Poplarville. But before the storm, Picayune was more of a quaint little town than it has become now. Things have changed so much in that area. We still have a daughter and her family living in Slidell so we get back once or twice a year. I don't remember of much gardening around Slidell. Heading north, though, it seemed like you could find some gardens here and there through the countryside. Still not that many considering the wonderfully long growing season. Anyway, was just curious.
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on Dec 22, 2017 8:45:57 GMT -5
Seems like if there's not an app for it, then people aren't interested. Boy, that's the truth.
|
|
|
Post by meandtk on Dec 22, 2017 10:01:08 GMT -5
poppopt, Yes, I'm 2 1/2 miles outside of Picayune.
|
|
|
Post by Gianna on Dec 22, 2017 12:09:46 GMT -5
Glad to see there are a couple people who have other gardeners in their areas, but sadly, mostly, not so much. It is no coincidence that the average age of US farmers is 58, and increasing. In a decade what will that number be as fewer and fewer people seem to have an interest in growing food plants. It's great that the US has had relatively inexpensive food for so long. Perhaps that has not been such a good thing.
|
|
|
Post by paulf on Dec 22, 2017 12:22:09 GMT -5
This may be the year for starting a community garden. Been in the works for the past three years. There is a spot on Main Street in the village that can be tilled and planted. Rakes and hoes will be left on site and a sign saying to take what you want but hoe the weeds and whatever else needs to be done. We shall see if this is just another space for me to take care of or whether there will be those who help out.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 22, 2017 12:31:03 GMT -5
On our block, I believe I am the only one with a veggie garden? Others had in years past apparently, but not now. When we moved here 6 years ago, there were several homes with beautiful front yard flower gardens aka Rainwater Catchment gardens. But as homes change hands, it seems the new owners have no interest gardening at all and these are slowly being ripped out/turned under and sodded over. It's a shame.
This city does however, have a very active greenspace community with large organized seed swaps, seedbanks popping up in some of the libraries and many community garden plots.
My oldest granddaughter has just moved into a house and has a lovely backyard. She loves gardening, but she has a very challenging career and a long commute. I'm hoping she can find a little time to at least put in a few tomatoes and some beans this year.
|
|
|
Post by Gianna on Dec 22, 2017 14:37:00 GMT -5
This may be the year for starting a community garden. Been in the works for the past three years. There is a spot on Main Street in the village that can be tilled and planted. Rakes and hoes will be left on site and a sign saying to take what you want but hoe the weeds and whatever else needs to be done. We shall see if this is just another space for me to take care of or whether there will be those who help out. What a great idea. If you do it, I hope it works out. It could either be fantastic, or, well, you know... Let's hope you get the right mix of people interested. But you will never know until you try it.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 22, 2017 14:59:52 GMT -5
the average age of US farmers is 58, and increasing. I'd be curious to know where these statistics came from and what if this includes smallscale growers as well, or does the source only consider large acreage, agricultural chemical using properties as Farms?
|
|
|
Post by Gianna on Dec 22, 2017 15:11:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 22, 2017 15:21:37 GMT -5
Okay, Thanks. All Big Agri Biz figures, so no, they don't take into consideration the droves of younger folks who are producing on smaller properties.
|
|
|
Post by Gianna on Dec 22, 2017 15:46:15 GMT -5
Okay, Thanks. All Big Agri Biz figures, so no, they don't take into consideration the droves of younger folks who are producing on smaller properties. I've watched a good number of market garden videos, and have seen some young people gravitating towards sustainable farming, and it's hopeful.. But I don't know how large a sample that is. Do you have a source for any numbers of these younger folks on smaller properties?
One of the things I find impressive is the very hard work many of these young people are willing to do. But then they are not going to show too many slackers on videos.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 22, 2017 22:20:11 GMT -5
No Gianna, I don't offhand. I looked quickly, but wasn't able to find anything definitive. I'll look tomorrow. I'm curious to compare.
|
|
|
Post by spacecase0 on Dec 25, 2017 11:32:52 GMT -5
as to the statistics, my guess is that they look at tax returns and see who claims to do farming for a living.
|
|
|
Post by guruofgardens on Jan 4, 2018 1:06:30 GMT -5
We're lucky to have schools and churches that have Community Gardens. We also have many farmer's markets starting in June, though lately I’ve seen many re-sells of (imho) junk. Starting in July, the local produce starts coming in, though I usually just give away much of what I grow.
Our community garden consists of mostly baby boomers, but this year we're adding a young teacher. Looking forward to her garden!
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 4, 2018 8:50:57 GMT -5
as to the statistics, my guess is that they look at tax returns and see who claims to do farming for a living. That's part of it. But all the stats I found had to do with large Agribiz. There are many people making a decent if not lucrative living off of smaller spreads. Perhaps the records haven't caught up to the current trends but they will.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 4, 2018 8:57:21 GMT -5
many farmer's markets starting in June, though lately I’ve seen many re-sells of (imho) junk. Another trend is to prohibit the resale of produce. Recently, I watched an expose on Farmer's Markets with the resale of produce. Some were not allowed but were removing stickers and lying about where the produce came from. One said it was grown on his farm (gave location). The TV station went to that property only to find that it was mostly junk farm equipment and a bit of corn. They followed his truck during the night to a large commercial reseller and watched him load cases upon cases of produce which he in turn took to the farmers market for 7 am. The peppers he picked up there, were in fact imported from Mexico. Hmmmm, Mexico to Canada, yep that's local isn't it?
|
|
|
Post by guruofgardens on Jan 4, 2018 13:39:36 GMT -5
We really do need to be vigilant with some of these farmer's market sellers. At one of the nurseries I frequent, there are way too many people selling 'other than produce' junk. I don't need to see jewelry, etc. There's one vendor who sells jams/jellies. They had a demonstration on how-to-do-it, or rather how THEY make jam to sell (at an exorbitant price). I would NEVER buy anything from them, especially after their demo. Then they had sample tastings of what they'd just made - yuck. Some fruits just do not go together in a jam.
|
|