Even in the city, Canadians find their patch of earth: a balcony garden, a plot in a community garden, an allotment garden. The important thing is to have something you can influence – in a world where so much feels beyond your control.
This lifestyle has an economic dimension too. In uncertain times, a garden or a cottage can provide a sense of security. You could theoretically weather a storm there. And governments recognize this – which is why there are programs supporting agricultural land and recreational areas.
Of course, not everyone has a cottage. But even those who don’t know that the *possibility* of having one, or the dream of it, is part of the Canadian identity.
Young people are continuing this trend – just in new forms. Tiny houses, sustainable homesteads, urban farming. But the core is the same: a desire for an authentic life.
And perhaps it’s this love for a small piece of home that protects us from the anonymity of the modern world.
Because home isn’t just a place – it’s a feeling. And that’s something Canadians create for themselves – with a shovel, a hammer, and a cold drink in hand.
