A new study shows gardening is becoming increasingly popular across Canada, particularly in the eastern portion of Canada.
Dalhousie University first began surveying Canadians at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 through its Agri-Food Analytics Lab. That year, 51 per cent of respondents stated they grew food at home.
In 2022, that number was slightly higher, at 52 per cent.
About nine per cent of respondents said they started growing food during the pandemic and eight per cent said they plan to start this year.
“With almost 14 million households in Canada, more than one million households are planning to grow food at home for this first time this year,” read a report released Tuesday.
Researchers said in the report that they expect the highest number of new gardeners in Atlantic Canada, representing about 10 per cent. This is followed by Quebec and Ontario at eight per cent.
Of those who plan to begin gardening this year, about 46 per cent are under the age of 35.
These survey results come as the cost of food and living reaches all-time highs in the country while inflation rises. Food costs have been highly impacted by COVID-19 and chain supply issues worldwide, and Canada is no different.
According to Canada’s Food Price Report 2022, the overall food price increase for the coming year is expected to be between five to seven per cent — the highest predicted increase since reporting began in 2010.
The report said Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Saskatchewan are expected to see food inflation rates higher than average this year.
It also predicted that menu prices at restaurants will increase as restaurants feel the impact of food supply issues, rising rent and recovery from COVID-19 lockdowns.
In the gardening report, 41 per cent of respondents said they grow food at home to save money, and 12 per cent said they worry about food supply shortages.
Page 3 of the Agri-Food report on gardening in 2022 contains a chart that shows why people grow food at home.
Dalhousie University Agri-Food Report
Of those who don’t grow food at home, 55 per cent said they don’t have space or a yard and nearly 40 per cent said they don’t have time.
The report from Agri-Food also showed that about 17 per cent of Canadians abandoned growing food in the past two years.
However, research associate at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab Janet Music said that in 2022, more Canadians are “firmly committed” to gardening.
“Some Canadians are abandoning gardening, but many who are continuing to garden seem more committed,” Music said in the report.
Overall, the report showed the highest gardening rate in the country is in Saskatchewan, and the lowest in Ontario this year. But Ontario and the Atlantic provinces have seen the highest rate of people taking up gardening since the pandemic began.
“Gardening is clearly getting a second wind in Canada due to COVID,” Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, said in the report.
Even two years into the pandemic, Charlebois concluded that gardening remains a popular activity in Canada.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
