As we’ve said countless times in the past, gardening is a great way to build self-sufficiency and ensure a healthy food supply for times of crisis. This might range from a few small planters on an apartment balcony to a backyard garden with several large plots — either way, the goal is to have a renewable source of calories in case a disaster impacts the supply chain. In a recent press release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an expanding initiative for registration of “People’s Gardens” which meet criteria that include “benefitting the community, working collaboratively, incorporating conservation practices, and educating the public.” Although joining the program is voluntary, some members of the preparedness community have expressed concern that this national garden database might lead to redistribution of privately-grown food resources in the future.
Above: A map showing the current locations of registered People’s Gardens in the United States.
What are People’s Gardens?
The USDA press release, published September 9th, 2022, summarizes as follows:
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“We welcome gardens nationwide to join us in the People’s Garden effort and all it represents,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, “Local gardens across the country share USDA’s goals of building more diversified and resilient local food systems, empowering communities to come together around expanding access to healthy food, addressing climate change and advancing equity.” Vilsack continued, “We encourage existing gardens and new gardens to join the movement. Growing local food benefits local communities in so many ways, and we offer technical resources to help. Also, it’s a great way to connect with your local USDA team members.”
Above: Registered People’s Gardens will be required to submit information regarding the type of growing methods used.
Launched in 2009, the People’s Garden initiative is named after President Lincoln’s nickname for the USDA, “the People’s Department.” Currently, 18 flagship “urban hub” People’s Gardens have been established by the department, with the first being located at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The initiative is now being expanded to include gardens on private property, such as “school gardens, community gardens, urban farms, and small-scale agriculture projects in rural, suburban and urban areas.”
To participate in the program, garden owners must go to usda.gov/peoples-garden to fill out a form that requests details such as the garden’s address, type of organization managing the garden, purpose of the garden, estimated size, and type of growing medium (e.g. raised beds, hydroponics, and/or greenhouses). The form also requires photos of the garden, and a certification that no federally-prohibited plants will be grown by garden administrators:
What’s the Incentive?
USDA’s press release states that those who register for the People’s Garden initiative will receive the following:
- Location and information displayed on USDA’s interactive map (as seen at the beginning of this article)
- A free People’s Garden sign with the logo above
- “Continued engagement through photos and information sharing”
Purpose and Implications
There’s no clear explanation of the purpose of this voluntary garden database, beyond…