Abstract
The objective of the study was to identify the trends of students of home economics at Al- Balqa Applied University toward home gardening in terms of, importance, sources of information available on this subject inside and outside the university, in addition to the most important obstacles that encounter practicing home gardening in their opinion. Also, solutions that may contribute to encouraging the practice of home gardening were investigated as well. The results of students responses showed that, home gardening is of great importance in terms of improving economic conditions and enhancing household food security with an average of (4.23 and 4.25), respectively. On the other hand, data showed that, courses included in study plan for home economics provide moderate theoretical information about home gardening (3.14), while practical part is limited (2.36). Also, responses of the students revealed a lack of laboratories and nurseries in the colleges required to apply the practical part of home gardening. Moreover, the results indicated that the students use internet to obtain information about home gardening more than the other sources available outside the university with an average of (3.32). On the other hand, students responses revealed many obstacles facing practicing home gardening, where lack of desire to practice such work (4.09) was the strongest obstacle. Meanwhile, adding more courses about home gardening to the study plan of home economics, focusing on the practical part, and providing the necessary laboratories and nurseries needed for the practical part of home gardening were the most important solutions to encourage practicing home gardening. Keywords: Home Gardening, Home Economics, Al-Balqa Applied University. DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-3-09
Highlights
IntroductionHousehold agriculture is defined as those activities practiced by the individual in the cultivation of plants with a limited area of land for home, it includes the cultivation of home surfaces and balconies, so that the plants planted in the garden will vary in size to include ornamental plants as well as medicinal plants, vegetables and fruit (Mazahra, Takhtouni, 2012).Perhaps the most important characteristic of home farming from other agricultural activities is that it is usually practiced by family members in general, while the housewife plays the largest role in the practice and organization of this activity (Zine El Abidine, 2006).The importance of home-based agriculture is that it provides the opportunity for family members to obtain adequate food by planting it in their garden, enhancing the food and economic security of the family (Oakley, 2004, Mazhara and Tahtimuni, 2012).In addition, home-based agriculture has an important role in providing health-safe food to family members, where the use of chemicals to control agricultural pests is minimal, at a time when the world is witnessing an increase in cancer-related diseases that are heavily exposed to agricultural pesticides at all stages of their growth (Murthy et al, 1999).Home agriculture provides a great opportunity for the cultivation and production of medicinal plants that greatly help in the recovery of certain diseases (Engels, 2001, Zahra and Tahtamouni , 2008, Tahtamouni et al, 2015).In addition, home-based agriculture provides a great opportunity to conserve plant genetic resources and biodiversity
What are the attitudes of female home economics students about the sources of information related to home agriculture outside the university?
The results of the responses of students of the home economics showed that household agriculture provides the family members with an opportunity to invest time positively, as well as developing the principle of teamwork among family members at a medium level close to the large (Table 1) this is consistent with another study conducted in Britain on the role of home agriculture in improving social cohesion by creating common interests among family members (Raske, 2010; Bhatti and Church, 2004)
Summary
Household agriculture is defined as those activities practiced by the individual in the cultivation of plants with a limited area of land for home, it includes the cultivation of home surfaces and balconies, so that the plants planted in the garden will vary in size to include ornamental plants as well as medicinal plants, vegetables and fruit (Mazahra, Takhtouni, 2012).Perhaps the most important characteristic of home farming from other agricultural activities is that it is usually practiced by family members in general, while the housewife plays the largest role in the practice and organization of this activity (Zine El Abidine, 2006).The importance of home-based agriculture is that it provides the opportunity for family members to obtain adequate food by planting it in their garden, enhancing the food and economic security of the family (Oakley, 2004, Mazhara and Tahtimuni, 2012).In addition, home-based agriculture has an important role in providing health-safe food to family members, where the use of chemicals to control agricultural pests is minimal, at a time when the world is witnessing an increase in cancer-related diseases that are heavily exposed to agricultural pesticides at all stages of their growth (Murthy et al, 1999).Home agriculture provides a great opportunity for the cultivation and production of medicinal plants that greatly help in the recovery of certain diseases (Engels, 2001, Zahra and Tahtamouni , 2008, Tahtamouni et al, 2015).In addition, home-based agriculture provides a great opportunity to conserve plant genetic resources and biodiversity. Perhaps the most important characteristic of home farming from other agricultural activities is that it is usually practiced by family members in general, while the housewife plays the largest role in the practice and organization of this activity (Zine El Abidine, 2006). The importance of home-based agriculture is that it provides the opportunity for family members to obtain adequate food by planting it in their garden, enhancing the food and economic security of the family (Oakley, 2004, Mazhara and Tahtimuni, 2012). Home-based agriculture provides a great opportunity to conserve plant genetic resources and biodiversity. Studies have shown that household agriculture is practiced mostly by women in general and rural women in particular, which has contributed greatly to their economic and social standing (Finerman and Sockett, 2003)
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