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Show Farm and Garden Guide, April, 19833 their garden produce. Beans, then corn led the field. Peppers and peas shared third place. Forty nine percent of garden of USD A SURVEY Why do or don't you garden? By CLEON M.KOTTER Utah State University Extension Service Writer When the sweat generated by hoeing rolls down your brow and yet the weeds persist, when insects and blight ravage your corn and cucumbers, when the array of garden aids crowds your car from the and sends your checking account into a tailspin, do you perhaps wonder why you garden? We note with interest that people over the country have responded to that question. In a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture household respondents indicated several reasons for growing gardens. Their main reasons were to get better quality, better tasting fruits and vegetables and to save money. Some claimed they garden just for the pleasure and esthetics of it. Some 14 percent of the households had been gardening for just one or two years. Forty percent had garage gardened three to 10 years and another 40 percent had stuck with it 11 years or more. People seem to get hooked on gardening. Those who have been gardening for a few years likely will continue. Reasons for not gardening include lack of time, interest or gardening space. Also counted are previous unexdesirable gardening total and periences growing cost exceeding store purchase price for certain fruits and vegetables. Home gardening was examined by USDA researchers to determine what impact it has on the U.S. food supply. The study aimed to learn why people garden, how many fruit and vegetable gardening households we have in the U.S., what kinds of produce they grow and how much of it is frozen or canned. Social science analysts tried to determine if home gardening is just a passing fancy or can it be expected to continue long enough to have a significant households impact on the national food supply. The department surveyed about 1,400 households throughout the U.S. for a three year period. The survey disclosed that about 44 percent of the U.S. households kept a garden each of the three years. About 65 percent of those said they gardened to get better quality Restore Beautify QUALITY House, Barn Carbon & and tastier one-thir- or preserved their home grown produce. Most of these canned tomatoes. A number also canned beans. The USDA researchers found gardening to be closely related to the economy. When the economy sagged, gardening increased; when it improved gardening declined. and Fence Emery County GLASS SUPPLIER A fruits and vegetables. Nearly half of the respondents said home gardening saved money. d of the About garden households did it as a hobby. Gardening gave them satisfaction, pleasure and pride. Another group said they had gardens simply because they liked to see things grow. Over the three years the number of households gardening in their own yard decreased from 85 to 69 percent. During that time, the number using space outside their yard to garden increased from 14 percent to 22 percent. About 62 percent of the garden households froze some canned PAINTiUJP! INSTALLER GLASS For Home, Commercial, Truck, Car & Camper All Glass Works Fully Guaranteed "Let us handle your Glass Problems IPAIMY The Pro Shop jb0, NPMNTSy Q QSEHUQIHH RAINTf&ASURRLY CEOttPffiiP Glass Shop 140 E. 100 South GissC 637-166- 2 HFdlirolhi Q for plus taxes plus taxes Size PI 8580-R- 1 for 11 3 SMALL CARS P18575-R1- U plus taxes P20575-R1- 4 5 for for MEDIUM CARS LARGER CARS CTiTnft Gg?gEB |