Today I attended some workshops/classes at Iowa State University with other Master Gardener trainees. Have I mentioned that I’m going through the Master Gardener program? I’m really enjoying what we’ve been learning, and today was a chance to meet with other trainees from across the state and get some in-person instruction and labs with Iowa State staff/faculty and grad students. At lunch today I was sitting at a table with a friend and some random other people, and from across the table, I heard a man talking about the “manly man who happens to garden” who was sitting next to him. I looked around the room, and took stock of the male-to-female ratio, and it was pretty low. I actually attended the Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference in January in the same building on the Iowa State campus and, thinking back, the ratio was probably closer, but I think there were definitely more men at the PFI conference than women. And it got me to thinking: What’s up with the stereotype that women “garden” and men “farm”?
Merriam-Webster defines “farmer” as:
and “gardener” as:
I don’t see anything in either definition that designates gender, but for some reason that man found it necessary to identify his friend as “a manly man”.
The goals of the Master Gardener program and Practical Farmers of Iowa aren’t the same, but I do believe there’s some overlap, and they both resonate with me.
“The mission of the Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Master Gardener Program is to provide current, research-based, home horticulture information and education to the citizens of Iowa through programs and projects. Through their participation in educational activities, Master Gardeners also increase their own personal knowledge in horticulture. Master Gardeners extend Iowa State University Extension & Outreach’s consumer horticulture education programs through volunteer activity.” (https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/about-master-gardener-program)
The Mission of PFI is, “Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.” with their Vision being, “An Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities.” (https://www.practicalfarmers.org/about/mission-vision-values-2/)
Both of them provide a wealth of information and educational opportunities to their members, and I LOVE learning, which is why I’m choosing to be involved in both. And if you want to learn more about either of them (or about ANY TOPIC IN THE WORLD)–take classes, get involved in your community and/or organizations, or even just do some research online or at your local public library. SO much information is available to us all of the time, and SO many of us choose not to take advantage of it. And finally, as far as I’m concerned, it shouldn’t matter what (if any) gender you identify with. Whatever you want to do, as long as it doesn’t hurt you or anyone else, just do it. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you can’t or shouldn’t, just because of who you are.
growingmoxie.com 