Saga - 2014, Page 43

Abstract
j óhanna þ . guðmundsdótt i r
THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF GARDENING
IN LATE 18TH-CENTURY ICELAND
Public reactions and attitudes
In the mid-18th century, extensive efforts were made to resurrect Iceland’s eco-
nomic sector in agriculture, manufacturing and fisheries. One item of focus was
growing vegetables, with a broad-based gardening campaign beginning in 1754.
Gardening was one of the simplest and least expensive measures for economic
progress, even if some initial tilling of the soil and fence building to keep out live-
stock were required, and the authorities promised to provide free seeds to every-
one. Given that gardening was therefore a rather easy economic programme for
the general populace to take part in, this article explores how Icelanders respond-
ed. As historian Christina Folke Ax considers necessary for a fuller understand-
ing of why 18th-century endeavours towards progress accomplished so little, this
research was trained on the commoners’ perspective in this social development,
investigating their actual basis for adopting gardening in the last half of the 18th
century.
The number of vegetable plots on the island was surveyed in reference to
three periods: 1752–1757, 1777 and 1792, the first year for which agricultural
reports were found that give a clear picture of the situation throughout Iceland.
Gardening was revealed to have spread among public officials fairly early in the
campaign, both among those in high positions and those of lower status, includ-
ing county magistrates. Pastors were also rather diligent, with some 43% starting
a plot. Commoners, however, proved reluctant, and by 1792 only 8% of Icelandic
households were tending a vegetable plot. The government campaign greatly to
increase vegetable cultivation can thus hardly be seen as having reached the gen-
eral populace during the periods covered.
Several hindrances seem to have caused this. To start with, the climate of
these times was harsh, and it was harder than planned for commoners to obtain
seeds. In fact, in some cases they found it better to rely on gathering edible wild
plants such as lichens. Another reason was that the majority of Icelandic farmers
were tenants who had little interest in improving the farm they were on, regard-
less of the method. Finally, some people, especially farm labourers and domestic
staff, simply did not like the new-fangled food which vegetables represented.
They did not want to “eat grass” like animals did, and since vegetables often
replaced part of their meat ration, may have viewed such a diet as a pay decrease.
These and still further factors may have discouraged many farmers from starting
a garden. Thus it could be said that the common people managed to evade upper-
class power: the farmers did not grow vegetables, despite official requests, and
the workers refused to eat them.
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