[threedogpack]

We know that farmers feed the world.

Are gardeners (esp those who grow and put up their own produce), considered mini farmers?

[Crackerdog]

What is the definition of a farmer?

[threedogpack]

hmmmm. Good question.

[threedogpack]

I was thinking of the phrase "farmers feed the world" when this question popped up.

[Bacardi1]

No - gardeners aren't automatically farmers, mini or otherwise.

There are tons of gardeners who don't grow edibles - many are just into ornamentals. And even those who do grow edibles are more often than not just growing for their own families.

To me a "farmer" is someone who grows with the intent purpose of selling the end product to others.

[Bluey]

What is farming?
It is one more way to manage our renewable, natural resources.

There is so much more to any answer, farming being so diverse.
Here is more to ponder about farming:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/e-newsl...180216581.html

[Alagirl]

most gardeners do not qualify.

But there are certainly some who do gardening on a scale that can rival a small farm.

(but then again, the land use would probably qualify them as small farm)


However, there are programs for gardeners something like 'the extra row'
that encourages gardeners to grow that extra bit of produce to share with those who need it.

[threedogpack]

and there are the neighborhood co-ops. I think they might qualify as mini farmers.

[Bluey]

Our post office mistress has a big garden behind the post office.
All the surplus, which is large, is offered to any customers that can use it.
Many local families really can use some fresh vegetables and are so thankful for it, not even talking it is really fresh and so much better than what you see at the stores.

[Crackerdog]

Our post office mistress has a big garden behind the post office.
All the surplus, which is large, is offered to any customers that can use it.
Many local families really can use some fresh vegetables and are so thankful for it, not even talking it is really fresh and so much better than what you see at the stores.

That is so awesome!

[threedogpack]

What is farming?
It is one more way to manage our renewable, natural resources.

There is so much more to any answer, farming being so diverse.
Here is more to ponder about farming:

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/e-newsl...180216581.html

While I appreciate that there are many sides to the issue of what is a farmer, what .exactly. are you trying to say with this link?

[Daydream Believer]

I think there are different kinds of farmers...one label doesn't fit all. There are livestock farmers/ranchers, poultry farmers, row crop farmers, local market farmers, organic farmers, vegetable farmers, etc...and for those who raise their own food for their own use, subsistence farmers...and that would be where I'd put most people with their own gardens and a hobby type place.

In the old days...say pre 1940....nearly everyone farmed and raised most of their own food. Almost no one, even in those days, was 100% self reliant...they had the village or neighbors to get things that they could not do themselves but they'd raise most of their own foods and animals and store/preserve food and seed. We've come a long ways past that now to where nearly nobody raises a significant amount of what they consume but rather depend on others to provide it.

Today farmers nearly always specialize in something versus do multiple things...and farmers rarely sell directly to end users unless they are part of the local food system but rather to middlemen or people who take what they have and process it further. Most farmers today shop at the grocery store versus eat what they raise. With our diversified small farm, we are raising about 80% of our own food now...we are a combination of subsistence farming and local market farming here.

[Bluey]

While I appreciate that there are many sides to the issue of what is a farmer, what .exactly. are you trying to say with this link?

That "farming" is a very large subject by definition, see what all comes under farming, including that interesting discussion and the environment that brought it up.