warped primitive admits she was a poor farmer

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x71511

Oh my.

Tesha  (1000+ posts)      Fri Nov-27-09 10:12 AM
Original message
 
Back to the Land

http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/back-to-the-...

an inspiration on eating well

The defrocked warped primitive:

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Fri Nov-27-09 02:02 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. Remember the 70s?

Been there, done that, rented land and discovered I was a poor farmer, although what managed to grow and survive the woodchucks was some of the best stuff I've ever eaten. I miss having a 10x10 kitchen garden, though, the drought here in the desert isn't conducive to agriculture. I'd spend five times on water what I'd get back in v*****s.

Before the drought hit, I did the impossible here, I grew English peas and they did beautifully. I knew better than to try watermelon, but squash also did fine. I froze the peas and ate them for two years.

There is nothing like back yard broccoli. It doesn't look a bit like those enormous supermarket heads of the stuff, but the flavor is sublime. If you live in a climate where you can grow any food of your own, even in containers or urban window boxes, you'll be rewarded.

Unfortunately for those of us who live in harsh climates, this ideal is impossible.

Ms. Kalman is dead wrong about one thing, though: commercially grown veg has just as many nutrients as her dirt covered carrots. It's just not as fresh.

Tesha  (1000+ posts)      Fri Nov-27-09 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #1
 
2. years ago I half an acre in production...
 
heaven, with dirty fingernails - but it's true... oh, fresh peas....

some v*****s loose nutrients within hours of being harvested tho' - that's why some frozen veg better for you than fresh.

We used the last of the fresh from our tiny garden in our Turkey Day Dinner - radishes and carrots - no seasoning, no butter or tarting up at all.

Gosh they were good.

I have a question about the desert Warpy... if you had an enclosed and shaded area -could you have fresh v*****s? Or are there other issues

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Fri Nov-27-09 03:14 PM
Response to Reply #2
 
3. The issue is WATER and even with a drip system and heavy mulching with straw, it gets hideously expensive to use potable city water. Rain barrels help, but only if it rains.

I have contented myself with established trees and shrubs in a bare yard plus a couple of containers of geraniums.

It's even hard to keep house plants going, it's so dry.

[GOBUCKS]

some v*****s loose nutrients within hours of being harvested tho'

I'd be interested to know what nutrient it is that evaporates within hours of harvest. Vitamin DUmmy? Sounds liked something they got from the Goracle.

[Chris]

Tesha  (1000+ posts)      Fri Nov-27-09 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #1
 
2. some v*****s loose nutrients within hours of being harvested tho' - that's why some frozen veg better for you than fresh.

Huh?

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Fri Nov-27-09 02:02 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. ...the drought here in the desert isn't conducive to agriculture. I'd spend five times on water what I'd get back in v*****s.

No wonder she sucked at "gardening".  She was in the damn desert.

[GOBUCKS]

Huh?No wonder she sucked at "gardening".  She was in the damn desert.

Remember Sam Kinnison's advice to the starving Ethiopian masses:

Look around you! It's all sand! Move to where the food is!

[Oceander]

Huh?No wonder she sucked at "gardening".  She was in the damn desert.

And, no doubt, putting one heck of a load on that poor old ecosystem, what with her insatiable demands for bringing in water that just doesn't belong there, not to mention the massive carbon footprint she's responsible for on account of having all that water brought in.  First thing she needs to do is expiate her "sins" of carbon emission.

Or maybe some kind soul will give her a little assistance:

[JohnnyReb]

Well....she could plant her garden on top of the septic tank lines....plenty of water and nutrients in that, I bet.