There's pretty solid evidence that people are gardening more now that both fuel and food prices have risen. A recent article on a Northwest news link featured a Portland family that is saving $100 a month from growing their own food. And a Portland nursery, a nursery in Killingsworth, Connecticut and a community gardens in Decatur, Georgia all report a rise in vegetable seeds and seedlings and fruit tree purchases.

According to the TriState Observer, 39% of people with backyards told the Garden Writers Association that they plan to grow vegetables this year. And even though gardening has been rising over the past decade, this year it jumped to 5% from last year – far larger than the small increases over the last several years. In places outside the US, like the Solomon Islands which relies heavily on rice, locals are being encouraged to garden sustainable vegetables that grow well in their particular climate.

I don't have the statistics, but here in Montana I've talked with numerous people who are gardening now when they never thought about doing such a thing in the past. The interesting part is that while it appears to be for economic reasons, people often cite gardening as having intangible, satisfying qualities as well, and also cite worry about climate change as a reason for switching. It might be victory gardens all over again. Go gardens, go.

Sources: the TriState Observer, KGW.com, Erie Times News, and Radio New Zealand International

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written by Zach, June 03, 2008

Dig for victory!

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