Trends of Students of Home Economics at Al- Balqa Applied University Towards Home Gardening

Abstract

The objective of the study was to identify the trends of students of home economics at Al- Balqa Applied University toward home gardening in terms of, importance, sources of information available on this subject inside and outside the university, in addition to the most important obstacles that encounter practicing home gardening in their opinion. Also, solutions that may contribute to encouraging the practice of home gardening were investigated as well. The results of students responses showed that, home gardening is of great importance in terms of improving economic conditions and enhancing household food security with an average of (4.23 and 4.25), respectively. On the other hand, data showed that, courses included in study plan for home economics provide moderate theoretical information about home gardening (3.14), while practical part is limited (2.36). Also, responses of the students revealed a lack of laboratories and nurseries in the colleges required to apply the practical part of home gardening. Moreover, the results indicated that the students use internet to obtain information about home gardening more than the other sources available outside the university with an average of (3.32). On the other hand, students responses revealed many obstacles facing practicing home gardening, where lack of desire to practice such work (4.09) was the strongest obstacle. Meanwhile, adding more courses about home gardening to the study plan of home economics, focusing on the practical part, and providing the necessary laboratories and nurseries needed for the practical part of home gardening were the most important solutions to encourage practicing home gardening.

Keywords: Home Gardening, Home Economics, Al-Balqa Applied University.

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-3-09