Are Gardens ‘Scapegoats’?

A growing body of homeowners and garden professionals think that gardens have become the “scapegoat� of special water interests.

This group includes such diverse interests as environmentalists seeking to protect endangered species and wild rivers and big agribusinesses looking out for mega crops such as cotton and rice.

The dissidents do not believe we are as short of water as some say, and that gardens should be a priority water use, taking precedence even over some agriculture because more people earn their living at it, and because it is so essential for city dwellers who would have little respite if it were not for gardens.

They point out that they are not against the growing of tomatoes, strawberries, almonds or other small, consumer crops, just the questionable crops that could be grown in other states, such as rice, cotton and silage.