Although Baby Boomers are still interested in gardening, they are downsizing to smaller houses and properties.
This worries growers, garden centers, toolmakers and others in the gardening industry. The common thinking among these groups is that young people do not garden.
However, that may not be true. At least one survey reports that consumers under 40 already are getting their hands dirty and in numbers equal to the older gardening public.
Sixty-four percent of the under 40s surveyed said they ‘grow or take care of plants,’ according to the Garden Writers Association Foundation’s late winter survey. This is the first time under 40-year-olds were singled out.
Sixty-three percent take care of flowers; 62 percent tended vegetables; 61 percent, trees and shrubs; and 55 percent the lawn. Fifty-two percent said they focused on house plants.
Despite all their youthful technological prowess, 87 percent of gardeners under 40 relied on friends and neighbors for information while only 37 percent of the total population used that resource. Sixty-nine percent of gardeners under 40 used books and 63 percent called on garden centers and nurseries for help. In the total population, 34 percent said books and 43 percent said garden centers.
These younger consumers said they garden for the sense of satisfaction it offers, 59 percent enjoyed working with nature and 56 percent liked growing their own food.
In contrast, the population as a whole gardens to beautify surroundings (40 percent), as a hobby (24 percent) or to grow their own food (22 percent).
Annual garden show
Green lifestyle expert, Discovery Network personality and Indianapolis resident Sara Snow is honorary chair of the 22nd annual Orchard in Bloom, April 29 through May 1 at Holliday Park.
Since its inception, the landscape and garden show has donated more than $100,000 for Holliday Park. New this year: the Garden and Natural Living Symposium and the Containers in Bloom competition. For more info: http://orchardinbloom.org
I built my first flower bed when I was 13, and I’m still under 40 for a few more years. There are a lot of us “under-40 gardeners” around believe it or not!
My garden is multi-purpose. It serves as a hobby, food supply, habitat for wildlife and outdoor entertaining area. I get most of my information from the internet, as long as I can verify it through several different sources.
I’m curious how many people they asked, and how they selected their population.