On the irrelevance of (peat-free) substrates - Qualitative insights into the social practices of hobby gardeners in Germany
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22355382 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Holger Braun (0009-0001-7289-2728, University of Hohenheim, corresponding author), Dorothee Apfel (0000-0002-5575-5959, Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science), Benedikt Rilling (0000-0001-6848-5786, Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science), Carsten Herbes (0000-0003-0670-8045, Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 100201 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cleaner and Responsible Consumption (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2666-7843 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.clrc.2024.100201 |
| OpenAlex | W4399768320 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 30 |
Reducing peat consumption in hobby gardening offers considerable potential for reducing CO2 emissions, since peatlands are one of the most important natural carbon sinks. While existing research focuses on the products and their diffusion, we focus on people and their practices of gardening. So we conducted 44 interviews with hobby gardeners in Germany from three different contexts: gardening at home, in an allotment garden, and in an urban gardening initiative. Our findings show that substrates are not a major part of gardeners ́ social interactions. Purchasing substrates is a utility-driven process with, compared to gardening itself, mostly passive information behavior. Although (basic) knowledge about peat is widespread among hobby gardeners, price is the dominant purchase criterion for substrates; sustainability does not play an important role. Our results suggest that communication campaigns by governments and companies should convey substrate-related messages in those places where gardeners go to seek information, e.g. gardening-related publications. Communication should focus on the functional value of peat-free substrates and not just explain environmental benefits. Lastly, campaigns should target home gardeners rather than urban gardeners and allotment gardeners who rarely buy any substrates but rely on their own production
Archaeology · Geography · Hobby · Peat · Political science · Ecology, Conservation, and Geographical Studies · Law · Organic Food and Agriculture
Analyzing Qualitative Data with MAXQDA
Global vulnerability of peatlands to fire and carbon loss
Qualitative Sozialforschung – Ein Arbeitsbuch.
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The Dynamics of Social Practice
Sustainable Consumption Corridors
A Practice Theory Approach to Sustainable Consumption
A Conceptual Review to Approach Traditional Homegardens as Fields of Social Practice
Invisible, intangible, irrelevant, yet inevitable? Qualitative insights into consumer perceptions of heating tariffs and drop-in renewable gases in the German domestic heating market
If I’m not gardening, I’m not at my happiest”
Consumption and Theories of Practice
Pragmatic Prosumption
Civic ecology practices
Toward a Theory of Social Practices
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |