> It's almost like the poor lifestyle choice they made was living in a rural area

> I have no idea why people choose to live like that.

Many, if not most, times it's not a choice. Limited skills, limited education, limited drive, and limited exposure leads you to stick around where you are because you don't know any better.

> and not keeping a garden

I'll give you this. It was a thing, a big thing, when I was younger. It makes me think people have honestly gotten lazier - there seems to be no drive or desire to do so.