According to a survey by nationwide supplier Bonnie Plants, more than 20 million Americans took up gardening for the first time in 2020.
Last month at the Great American Seed Up in north central Phoenix, more than 400 Arizona gardeners looked for the perfect seeds.
The increased interest in gardening may also have been due to people simply having more time at home.
“We’ve got, what, 36 hours worth of food in the local Safeway? That’s how quickly they turn over their inventory,” said Bill McDorman, co-founder of Great American Seed Up.
At the Great American Seed Up, the goal is to get thousands of people to save and regenerate native and non-native seeds.
As the country reopens and people head back to work, away from their gardens, the trend could wither.
Diana Quintero expects to graduate in spring 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and a minor in business.
Emma VandenEinde expects to graduate in May 2022 with a master’s degree in journalism.