The Springing up of Garden Communities
by Coleman Alderson of GardensAll.com Lo and behold, a phenomena along these lines is beginning to take shape here in the US and Canada, where “agrihoods” are springing up all over. Land developers who are known for bulldozing farm fields are now touting properties built on or near working farms, where residents can lay out their own garden spreads or join in self-sufficient community food production.
Gardening has grown over 17% from 2008 to 2013.
It’s no wonder, really– given stats from 2013, the National Gardening Association found that gardening has grown over 17% from 2008 to 2013. Further research over the same time period reveals:
- 1 in 3 households are now growing food – the highest overall participation and spending levels seen in a decade.
- Americans spent $3.5 billion on food gardening in 2013 – up from $2.5 billion in 2008 – a 40% increase in five years.
- 76% of all households with a food garden grew vegetables, a 19% increase since 2008.
- From 2008 to 2013 the number of home gardens increased by 4 million to 37 million households, while community gardens tripled from 1 million to 3 million, a 200% increase.
- Households with incomes under $35,000 participating in food gardening grew to 11 million – up 38% from 2008.[1]http://assoc.garden.org/press/press.php?q=show&pr=pr_nga&id=3819
Given the rising tide of interest in “garden to table”, locavore, organic, urban gardens, suburban homesteads, healthy/fresh food production, and the like, it’s no surprise that more and more “agrihoods” are being built around working farms and garden spaces rather than golf courses. Retiring “Baby Boomers” and young parents alike are finding that intimacy with the land and its bounty may not be as far away as Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. It might just be in their own back yards.[2]http://gardensall.com/are-golf-courses-giving-way-to-greener-pastures-and-food-garden-communities/ If you’re interested in seeing some communities that are supporting gardening, continue to page 3!
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