Time to care: growing food during a pandemic, and in the future

Abstract

In the context of the lockdowns and isolation protocols of the COVID-19 pandemic, food gardening increased significantly around the world, including in Australia. Drawing on responses from residents in Melbourne to a national survey on food gardening, this paper explores people’s household food growing during the pandemic. Established research on gardening, for food or otherwise, points to its physical, mental, and social benefits for gardeners. Examining food gardening through feminist-inspired notions of care and care infrastructure offers different insights, ones oriented more around practice, ethics, and the socio-material networks that support care – of selves and others. We enhance thi..