The City of Vancouver asked residents “Do you grow any food in your yard?

Survey question as part of larger study on backyard composting and grasscycling

By Mustel Group Market Research
for the City of Vancouver
May 2007

The City of Vancouver population is 630,000. Greater Vancouver, which comprise 22 member municipalities and one electoral area, has a population of over 2 million.

Do you grow any food in your yard?

1. About half of the target residents grow food in their yard.

2. Not surprisingly, those living in single detached dwellings are much more likely to grow food in their yard than duplex/townhouse dwellers (53% vs. 35%).

3. North East and South East residents are more inclined than Westside residents (62% and 58%, respectively).

4. Growing food is most popular among Other South Asian/Asian language speakers (68% vs. 50% for English speakers). In spite of the greater likelihood to self-describe as a “yard maintainer”, there is considerable interest among ethnic residents in food gardening.

A random telephone survey was conducted among 500 households that fulfill the criteria for the target market. Consisting of single family dwellings and townhouses with personal yard space, interviews were distributed across the City of Vancouver, but excluded Downtown/West End/Yaletown. The survey was translated into Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) and Punjabi with interviewers available as required. The fieldwork was completed from May 16 to June 6, 2007.

See the complete survey report here.