Breaking New Breaking New Ground: Ground: Women and Farm Women and Farm

Entry in Entry in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia

A thesis defense byA thesis defense by

Becky LiptonBecky Lipton

Positioning MyselfPositioning Myself

Why Research Women Why Research Women and Farm Entry? and Farm Entry?

1996 – 2001 farmers decreased by 10% or 1996 – 2001 farmers decreased by 10% or 40,000 farmers40,000 farmers

Farmers under 35 Farmers under 35 1991 = 20%1991 = 20% 2001 = 11.5%2001 = 11.5%

45% of farmers 45% of farmers work off the farmwork off the farm

MethodologyMethodology

2 stages2 stages 5 farms 5 farms 28 interviews28 interviews

Selection CriteriaSelection Criteria Interviews: Farming less Interviews: Farming less

than 10 yearsthan 10 years Subgroup: Farming less Subgroup: Farming less

than 4 yearsthan 4 years Managing the FarmManaging the Farm

Gendered Spaces and Gendered Spaces and Being a FarmerBeing a Farmer

“In my experience, I think women are well respected in the farming industry”

“On this Island there are a lot of women farmers and I feel like I fit in pretty well.”

“I definitely don’t feel disadvantaged because I’m a woman.”

An Alternate Social SpaceAn Alternate Social Space

A social space of A social space of acceptanceacceptance

A social space where A social space where women feel satisfied women feel satisfied as farmersas farmers

Autonomous Emergence Autonomous Emergence and Co-Existenceand Co-Existence

Autonomous economic niches, systems, Autonomous economic niches, systems, institutions institutions

Related to alternative & conventional agricultureRelated to alternative & conventional agriculture Marketing SystemsMarketing Systems Social InteractionsSocial Interactions Autonomous EmergenceAutonomous Emergence

 Alternative Agriculture

Conventional Agriculture

Both Alternative & Conventional

Total (N)

 N % N % N %

Length of Years Farming

> 10 yrs

34 63% 19 35% 1 2% 54

< 10 yrs

27 82% 5 15% 1 3% 33

From Idea to Success: From Idea to Success: Networks and SupportNetworks and Support

Networks result in Networks result in support which support which mediate challengesmediate challenges Family-to-FarmerFamily-to-Farmer Farmer-to-FarmerFarmer-to-Farmer Community-to-FarmerCommunity-to-Farmer

Types of SupportTypes of Support AffectiveAffective Practical/MaterialPractical/Material

Policy ImplicationsPolicy Implications

Support Alternative AgricultureSupport Alternative Agriculture Direct Marketing InfrastructureDirect Marketing Infrastructure

Farmers’ Markets, Farm Gate Sales, CSAs, Farmer-Chef Farmers’ Markets, Farm Gate Sales, CSAs, Farmer-Chef PartnershipsPartnerships

Local ProductsLocal Products Local marketing infrastructure, buy local campaignsLocal marketing infrastructure, buy local campaigns Import SubstitutionImport Substitution

Alternative Production TechniquesAlternative Production Techniques Training programs, grants, certificationsTraining programs, grants, certifications

Small-scale AgricultureSmall-scale Agriculture Caps on land values Caps on land values Recognize farmers social & environmental servicesRecognize farmers social & environmental services

Policy ImplicationsPolicy Implications

Supporting the NetworksSupporting the Networks Networks as providers of resourcesNetworks as providers of resources

Recognition in taxation policy & infrastructureRecognition in taxation policy & infrastructure Opportunities for ExchangesOpportunities for Exchanges

Training programs: Mentors, apprenticeships, Training programs: Mentors, apprenticeships, exchange forumsexchange forums

Farmer collaborations, farm visits, events and Farmer collaborations, farm visits, events and organizationsorganizations

Enhance community-farmer relationsEnhance community-farmer relations Promoting farmers = increased tourism & local Promoting farmers = increased tourism & local

developmentdevelopment

Breaking New Breaking New Ground: Ground: Women and Farm Women and Farm

Entry in Entry in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia

Thank you!Thank you!