Think how unhappy you’d be without a clothes washer. Or, have you ever hoed a field of corn? That is NOT a happy time.
Well, I for one was referring to growing as much of our own food as possible, not driving 50 miles to buy some peas, as suggested in Ephraim’s link. That way I know it’s organic, it didn’t have to be transported, it wasn’t genetically altered, and it was tended with loving care. I was also referring to having a few laying hens that don’t live miserable lives in tiny cages, plus maybe having a couple of animals for milk to make butter and cheese, and that sort of thing. You might come back by pointing out that you have to feed those animals, but free-range chickens eat a lot of bugs, which is good for the garden, plus they can find much of their own scratch, and goats eat scraps plus all the weeds you don’t want anyway. You can create your own little self-sustaining eco-system.
Not only does growing your own food create a healthier, better tasting diet, it creates a much smaller impact on the environment, and if enough people did it, it would make a substantial difference to the planet. And, if/when times do get really hard, the people who have established their own food sources will be better able to survive. (Food for themselves, plus extra to barter with.) A couple of fruit or nut trees can bring in some income, too.
As for Ephraim’s link, I think there are some serious flaws in their math and logic. Not everyone drives that far to get their fresh food anymore. Tucson, for example, has several farmer’s markets, located in various parts of town. And not all the farmers are driving that far to get there, either. You don’t have to have that much space to grow extra veggies to sell. You can even do it in a city garden, if you have a mind to do so. Many communities are creating shared gardens, in fact.
At the place we moved out of a little over a year ago, we recycled some lumbar (from an old building already on the property) to build a 3 x 30 foot garden up off the ground (waist-high) making it easier to tend (no bending, no little critters, few weeds). In that relatively small space, we had: strawberries, spinach, green beans, green onions, yellow onions, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, slicing tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers. 90 square feet isn’t much, either. Even people without a yard can grow most of those things in containers on the patio. You don’t have to have acres, and you don’t have to plow anything. What you do get is the satisfaction of growing your own food, and the assurance that it isn’t tainted. It feels good, tastes better, and it’s better for you (fresher = more nutrients).
BTW, Gardening is also one of the best cures for depression, and it’s a positive educational experience for children.
My sentiments exactly. Not that I’ve achieved it completely–YET, but I’m [we’re] working on it.
Are you going to go back to what the Founding Fathers prescribed for transportation, communication, entertainment and medical care, too?
I’ll take the Z if you’re looking to get rid of it. And your iPhone.
I’m with Jill on this one.
Adopting that lifestyle doesn’t even save gas. See:
http://peakoildebunked.blogspot.com/2009/10/426-local-food-guzzles-more-fuel-than.html
Think how unhappy you’d be without a clothes washer. Or, have you ever hoed a field of corn? That is NOT a happy time.
Well, I for one was referring to growing as much of our own food as possible, not driving 50 miles to buy some peas, as suggested in Ephraim’s link. That way I know it’s organic, it didn’t have to be transported, it wasn’t genetically altered, and it was tended with loving care. I was also referring to having a few laying hens that don’t live miserable lives in tiny cages, plus maybe having a couple of animals for milk to make butter and cheese, and that sort of thing. You might come back by pointing out that you have to feed those animals, but free-range chickens eat a lot of bugs, which is good for the garden, plus they can find much of their own scratch, and goats eat scraps plus all the weeds you don’t want anyway. You can create your own little self-sustaining eco-system.
Not only does growing your own food create a healthier, better tasting diet, it creates a much smaller impact on the environment, and if enough people did it, it would make a substantial difference to the planet. And, if/when times do get really hard, the people who have established their own food sources will be better able to survive. (Food for themselves, plus extra to barter with.) A couple of fruit or nut trees can bring in some income, too.
As for Ephraim’s link, I think there are some serious flaws in their math and logic. Not everyone drives that far to get their fresh food anymore. Tucson, for example, has several farmer’s markets, located in various parts of town. And not all the farmers are driving that far to get there, either. You don’t have to have that much space to grow extra veggies to sell. You can even do it in a city garden, if you have a mind to do so. Many communities are creating shared gardens, in fact.
At the place we moved out of a little over a year ago, we recycled some lumbar (from an old building already on the property) to build a 3 x 30 foot garden up off the ground (waist-high) making it easier to tend (no bending, no little critters, few weeds). In that relatively small space, we had: strawberries, spinach, green beans, green onions, yellow onions, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, slicing tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers. 90 square feet isn’t much, either. Even people without a yard can grow most of those things in containers on the patio. You don’t have to have acres, and you don’t have to plow anything. What you do get is the satisfaction of growing your own food, and the assurance that it isn’t tainted. It feels good, tastes better, and it’s better for you (fresher = more nutrients).
BTW, Gardening is also one of the best cures for depression, and it’s a positive educational experience for children.