It takes different forms, and attracts different practitioners, but it still seems to pop up every generation or so.
It’s not an interest in jazz, or open-toed shoes. In fact, despite its trendy status, it may even touch on something essentially human.
It’s the idea of getting back to the land.
Judging from the double-digit increase in Burpee seed sales and a projected 40% increase in homes growing vegetables, according to the National Gardening Association, to say that horticulture is a growth industry is clearly more than a pun.
Source: Flier-Jodai
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve had a bumper crop of folks ready to get their hands dirty, whether it’s in a city garden or certified organic farm.
In the 1970s, hippies galore tuned out, turned on and tilled the soil — for a while. Similarly, a generation wearied by World War II sought refuge in Nature, before they settled for suburbia.
As early as the first century B.C. E., folks looked to the country for respite from the evils of Ancient Rome. As Cicero wrote, “All occupations from which gain is secured, there is none better than agriculture, nothing more productive, nothing sweeter, nothing more worthy of a free man.”
So, aside from the fact that there’s now a garden on the White House lawn, what’s fueling this particular growth spurt in land-related business?
The economic downturn, what else? Growing your own food saves money, after all. Furthermore, when your ability to earn a living feels out of your control, it’s reassuring to seize the means of production, at least when it comes to vegetables.
In response to the parade of scoundrels and schemers who led us and our economy astray, we also seem to have developed a desire to connect with what’s honest and authentic.
As often as not, we interpret this as a longing for the countryside.
I’m not exactly sure why rural life is seen as more real than city life, but it often is.
Perhaps it’s because working with the land takes us away from our modern, mediated existence and reconnects us with forces of nature, forces bigger than we are.
I find that awfully refreshing.
How about you? Have you ever gone to a national park and wished you could stay there? Some people do, but you can live a life connected to nature without being a park ranger.
You could work in horticulture, animal care, landscaping, conservation and more. If you’re looking for a career change, maybe it’s time for you to consider going back to the land yourself.
This post was sponsored by land-force.com. Looking for farm jobs? Based in the U.K., land-force.com is a one-stop job site specializing in land-based industries, catering to job seekers and employers alike.
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About Danielle: Danielle Dresden is one of the co-authors of this blog (http://www.danielledresden.com). |
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