Contact: Michael Metallo
National Gardening Association
800) 538-7476, ext. 123
mikem@garden.org
Contact: Bruce Butterfield
National Gardening Association
(800) 538-7476, ext. 113
bruceb@garden.org
(June 8, 2011, So. Burlington, VT) According to the just-released results of National Gardening Association's 2011 National Gardening Survey, consumers spent nearly $3 billion for the second year in a row on food gardening last year while sales for other types of lawn and garden activities saw a small decline. In 2010, sales for vegetable gardening, fruit trees, berries and herb gardening totaled $2.990 billion and $2.989 billion in 2009. ″That's the highest level of spending on food gardening seen in more than a decade and a 20% increase over the $2.409 billion consumers spent in 2008 before the economic downturn″ said Bruce Butterfield, NGA Research Director.
Total sales for all types of do-it-yourself lawn and garden activities declined by 5% in 2010 to $28.409 billion from $30.121 billion the previous year. Apparently homeowners did more for themselves and fewer hired someone to do it for them last year, but they spent a little less money . The number of households that hired lawn care and landscape services last year declined by 8% from 24 million households to 22 million households. That's the lowest level seen in households hiring someone to do it for them in the past 5 years. Nearly four times as many households, 80 million, participated in do-it-yourself lawn and garden activities as hired someone to care for their lawns and gardens for them. The nationwide average amount spent on all lawn and garden activities in 2010 was $363 compared to $355 in 2009, a difference of only $8 per household.
″It is gratifying to see that people are directly connecting to their food source as well as taking personal responsibility for their outdoor environments. If one good thing came out of our recession woes, it's that many people have reconnected with the land and are growing their own vegetables, fruit, berries, and herbs″ said Mike Metallo, NGA President.
For more information about the 2011 National Gardening Survey or to purchase a copy please visit www.gardenresearch.com.
Founded in 1973, the National Gardening Association is a national nonprofit leader in plant-based education, respected for its award-winning Web sites and newsletters, grants and curricula for youth gardens, and research for the lawn and garden industry. NGA, uses gardening as a vehicle to advance social, environmental, and educational causes, and supports gardeners and educators with in-depth information about gardening and its many benefits. NGA's mission is to promote home, school, and community gardening as a means to renew and sustain the essential connection between people, plants, and the environment. To learn more, please visit www.garden.org.