ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to show how food self-provisioning (FSP) enables food as a commons and helps to build strong communities. It presents a detailed case study on the participants’ motivations to undertake FSP, which is based on interviews conducted in Hungary and which is used to point out how FSP creates communities. The cultural determinant element of FSP can be traced in its diverse cultural meanings for gardeners that completely transgress market principles. FSP also reinforces the concept of culturally appropriate food that challenges the commodification of food and therefore can be linked to the fulfilment of food as a human right. The public good dimension of FSP is linked to governmental/municipal public policies or citizens’ collaborative practices, beyond individual, private interests. FSP creates solidarity and community as much as it goes beyond the market and trading. Food self-provisioners also rely on tradeable food commodities.
