In the last few months it seems like there has been growing tension between Generations X & Y (i.e. people born roughly between 1965 and 1990) and the Baby Boomer generation. Instead of debating what Gen X & Y think about gardening, I thought it would make sense to just come out and ask.
If you have a couple of minutes, I’d appreciate you answering these 10 questions:
Once 200 people have taken the survey I’ll publish the results. I realize that this isn’t scientific, and the survey group is self-selecting, but it will still be interesting to see what the results are. I’m also tracking down some other more concrete data that I’ll include with the results.










{ 1 trackback }
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! Your website is amazing! at http://www.dinnergarden.org we are always looking for sources to help our gardeners. Would it be okay if we recommend your website to our container gardeners? Thanks!
I just took it. I’d love to see the results when you’re done! I really think Gen X/Yers are just as likely to love (or hate or be ambiguous about) gardening as any other generation.
Of course Holly! Thanks for your kind comments about LOTB.
Hi Fern, why aren’t you including the boomers like myself in the survey? Being left out is making me tense.LOL And I agree with Jennah 100%
Scott–LOL. Because no one is besmirching the good name of Boomer gardeners!
I agree that younger folks probably like gardening as much as previous generations did in their 20s/30s/40s. Most of the survey is about gardening behavior though. Maybe I’ll survey Boomers next to see how we’re the same and how we’re different.
Gardeners besmirching gardeners? Say it isn’t so! We have so much to learn from one another…looking forward to the survey results. Baby Boomer
I think you missed something in your survey — in the “how do you get your plants” question, it would have been nice to see an option for “i grow them from seeds that i get in swaps with other gardeners online.” I bet Gen X and Gen Y do a LOT of online seed swapping.
Katxena–People who do that should have chosen, “I grow them from seeds/bulbs I got from friends/family/neighbors/etc.” The nature of surveys is that every specific scenario cannot be included, because having 200 people respond in 200 slightly different ways doesn’t provide a useful snapshot of how that group of people behaves. People responding to surveys (not just this one) have to select the response that best fits what they do, even when the specific thing they do is not exactly listed. “Getting seeds from friends” is pretty gosh darn close to “getting seeds from friends I met online.”
I just took the survey and I’ll be looking forward to the follow up. Interesting idea.
Was looking for ideas to conduct a gardening survey myself as part of an instructional course. “Borrowed” a few of your questions. Hope you don’t mind. Want to see how many people know how beneficial and relaxing gardening is. I am an avid earth mother and so excited that spring is only a few weeks away in the frigid midwest.
Tilling and toiling is a great stress reliever.
Keep me posted on your results.
By all means Denise, feel free to use the survey however you wish! I certainly don’t own those questions!