The Occupation of a Market Gardener

MARKET GARDENER



Market gardening is both a very old way to farm and a very new and popular one. The market gardener is someone who has a small area of land. The term small can be used in comparison to most large commercial farms, where acres possessed can be in the tens of thousands. Typically small could mean anywhere from one to a couple of acres to 50 or over. On this land the farmer grows whatever he or she wishes, but instead of growing it for commercial markets, produce is usually sold at places like farmer’s markets, or to small local grocery stores and restaurants. Sometimes the market gardener maintains a sales site on his or her land and sells directly to customers from the farm.

 The farmer and family do much of the work involved in market gardening. Occasionally if a farm is on the larger side, workers might be hired on a temporary basis to harvest fruit or for other tasks. Yet just about every market gardener can attest that they perform hard physical labour to grow fruit and veggies. Part of the appeal of this type of farming to many consumers is that growing methods used are frequently organic, since this not only may reduce work, but also reduces costs. However some profits can be lost due to crop loss that may occur with organic farming, though there are many interventions that may save crops.

Produce being sold at a Farmers Market

I noted in some of my research that quite a few of my Bayne/Bain ancestors were Market Gardeners and labourers on the farms.  This was mainly in the Fife region and the last relative I have recorded in this occupation was my great great grandfather Robert Bayne.

Vegetables grown in a Market Garden