Download - Breaking New Ground: Women and Farm Entry in British Columbia A thesis defense by Becky Lipton
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!