COVID-19 commentaries and open call papers

Abstract

The cover of this open call issue of JAFSCD is a Google Earth shot of the Schrebergartens outside Mann-heim, Germany. Schrebergartens are named for Dr. Moritz Schreber, a Leipzig University professor who specialized in pediatric health. He is infamous for advocating that children strictly obey adults, but he also suggested that city children should have access to fresh air and green space. Schrebergartens are similar in some respects to the Russian dacha, often including “tiny houses,” raised beds, perennials—and lots of garden gnomes. Entire colonies of Schrebergartens have been established since WWII. While Schrebergartens have been seen as quaint and outdated by some, there are about one million gardens and a five-year waiting list to obtain one. They have traditionally been the haunt of retirees or lower-income residents, but the current uptick in demand seems to be driven by millennials looking for refuge from the hectic pace of modern German life. Could we see this type of urban garden culture leap the Atlantic? After all, we have plenty of millennials looking for a respite from their phones, laptops, and gaming systems. More importantly, we have under-privileged urban residents who might enjoy having their own tiny house and the serenity of a food and flower garden. John Ikerd starts off our issue with his Economic Pamphleteer column, A Fair Deal for rural America. Building on his series of columns analyzing America’s food and farm policy agenda, Ikerd argues that the U.S. government’s approach to rural development is not only woefully inadequate but, in fact, contributes to persistent poverty.