The number of home gardeners is on the rise. Households growing plants jumped 19% from 2008-2009 to 43 million households, according to the 2009 Impact of Home and Community Gardening In America study that was conducted by Harris Interactive for the National Gardening Association. At first glance, one might expect people to cite the recession as a motivating factor for their decision to garden. While a third said the recession affected their interest in gardening, another third said it had no impact whatsoever. In fact, the chief motivating factor of cultivating home-grown vegetables is "for better-tasting food."
So just who are all these new gardeners? "The demographics of today's food gardening households include a broad cross-section of the U.S. population. There are few other outdoor activities where virtually every demographic group is so well represented, no matter what their age, education, income, marital status, household size, gender, or regional location," concludes the NGA report.
The food gardening experience is enjoyed primarily by women (54%), those ages 45+ (68%), college students (43%) and married couples with no children at home (67%). The gardeners are pretty evenly spread across the South, Midwest, West and Northeast. Those making $35,000 - $49,999 in household income are the most common gardening group (24%), although many who make over $75,000 (22%), under $35,000 (21%) and between $50,000 and $74,999 (16%) are also represented.
Most households spent about $70 on seeds, soil, garden supplies and garden tools this year, but their produce savings totaled over $500! Home gardeners in 36 million households grew vegetables (23%), herbs (12%), fruit trees (10%) and berries (6%). Vegetable growers spent about $53 to get started, while fruit tree owners spent $61, herb growers spent $30 and berry growers spent $29. All in all, $1.4 billion went toward vegetable gardening spending, $538 million toward fruit trees, $138 million toward berry growing and $391 million toward herb growing. Truly, these industries are growing in America.
Today's home gardeners have been growing food for 12 years on average, and they spend about five hours per week on their gardens. Twenty percent of those surveyed say this is their first year growing plants, while 39% said they've been gardening for 1-5 years. Some gardeners spend over 20 hours in their gardens each week, but the norm seems to be closer to 3-5 hours. Surprisingly, 43% of respondents said they spend less than two hours in their gardens. An estimated 5 million households are "extremely" or "very" interested in having a garden plot in a community garden located near their homes. Is communal gardening the way of the future? The National Gardening Association seems to think so. Many people believe that locally grown food can deliver safer, fresher and better quality produce.
So just who are all these new gardeners? "The demographics of today's food gardening households include a broad cross-section of the U.S. population. There are few other outdoor activities where virtually every demographic group is so well represented, no matter what their age, education, income, marital status, household size, gender, or regional location," concludes the NGA report.
The food gardening experience is enjoyed primarily by women (54%), those ages 45+ (68%), college students (43%) and married couples with no children at home (67%). The gardeners are pretty evenly spread across the South, Midwest, West and Northeast. Those making $35,000 - $49,999 in household income are the most common gardening group (24%), although many who make over $75,000 (22%), under $35,000 (21%) and between $50,000 and $74,999 (16%) are also represented.
Most households spent about $70 on seeds, soil, garden supplies and garden tools this year, but their produce savings totaled over $500! Home gardeners in 36 million households grew vegetables (23%), herbs (12%), fruit trees (10%) and berries (6%). Vegetable growers spent about $53 to get started, while fruit tree owners spent $61, herb growers spent $30 and berry growers spent $29. All in all, $1.4 billion went toward vegetable gardening spending, $538 million toward fruit trees, $138 million toward berry growing and $391 million toward herb growing. Truly, these industries are growing in America.
Today's home gardeners have been growing food for 12 years on average, and they spend about five hours per week on their gardens. Twenty percent of those surveyed say this is their first year growing plants, while 39% said they've been gardening for 1-5 years. Some gardeners spend over 20 hours in their gardens each week, but the norm seems to be closer to 3-5 hours. Surprisingly, 43% of respondents said they spend less than two hours in their gardens. An estimated 5 million households are "extremely" or "very" interested in having a garden plot in a community garden located near their homes. Is communal gardening the way of the future? The National Gardening Association seems to think so. Many people believe that locally grown food can deliver safer, fresher and better quality produce.
About the Author:
Eating healthfully doesn't have to be expensive when you plant a vegetable garden. From container vegetable gardening to edible landscaping, you'll find the information you need at the Vegetable Garden Site.
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