Garden as If Your Life Depends On It--Because It Will

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ensho  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Wed Mar-30-11 11:48 AM
Original message
Garden as If Your Life Depends On It--Because It Will
   

http://counterpunch.com/laconte03302011.html


The Future of Agriculture


-snip-

In some American towns, and not just impoverished backwaters, as many as 30 percent of residents can't afford to feed themselves and their families sufficiently, let alone nutritiously. Here in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina where I live it's 25 percent. Across the country one out of six of the elderly suffers from malnutrition and hunger. And the number of children served one or two of their heartiest, healthiest meals by their schools grows annually as the number of them living at poverty levels tops twenty percent. Thirty-seven million Americans rely on food banks that now routinely sport half-empty shelves and report near-empty bank accounts. And this is a prosperous nation!

-snip-

What's for Supper Down the Road?

As they move through the next few decades Americans can expect

* the price of conventionally produced food to rise and not come down again,

* prices to rollercoaster so that budgeting is unpredictable,

* some foods to become very expensive compared to what we're used to

* and others, beginning with some of the multiple versions of the same thing made by the same company to garner a bigger market share and more shelf space, to gradually become unavailable.

-snip-

Why's Gardening So Important Now?

There are at least five reasons why more of us should take up spade, rake and hoe, make compost and raise good soil and garden beds with a vengeance, starting this spring and with an eye toward forever.

-snip #1 is peak oil. #2 peak soil #3 monoculture = messed with by agro Barons #4 global warming #5 bad economy-

In a subsequent column I'll review five variations on the theme of gardening to counterbalance the five reasons I think we need to.

* Back-yard, back-porch, back-40 gardening

* Community gardens

* Community Supported Agriculture

* Urban gardening

* Taking the 'Burbs

-----------------------------------

seriously, take this to heart

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x773457

The funny thing is, when Beck told people to start preparing for stuff like this, they called him a fear mongering moron.

[thundley4]

Oil is a trending indicator of overall prices.

[NHSparky]

I see these DUmmies, and the only song that comes to my mind is the Dead Kennedy's, "Holiday in Cambodia".

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTsXHXMkJA[/youtube]

[Jason]

The Buick is in da house!

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)
Response to Original message
24. Then people who can't garden are dead. No big deal. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

 

nc4bo   (1000+ posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #24
25. I priced a green bell pepper @ $1.69 for one and I've seen them as high as $2 for one....
   
If you like green peppers this gets expensive real fast.

One year we planted bell peppers into 5 gallon plastic pots that some perennial I can't recall now came in.

That one plant in one pot produced around 10 bell peppers. Eat one, freeze the rest.

Just a pot, a mostly sunny spot, little food and water was all that was needed and when the prices soar, you get to save.

 

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 05:59 PM
Response to Reply #25
28. As I said, those who can't garden are dead. No biggie. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
   
Edited on Wed Mar-30-11 06:01 PM by bobbolink
It is appalling that so many of you don't understand that you have resources that so many of us don't have.

Its time to consider there are others besides yourself, and learn to understand and care about those who aren't in your shoes.

It is terribly sad that "progressives" should have to be reminded of that basic fact of life.

 

nc4bo   (1000+ posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 06:03 PM
Response to Reply #28
30. sigh.....guess I'll go plant some extra flowers - carnations and lillies would be appropriate
   
I guess. 

So what's wrong? Think you have a brown thumb or something?

 

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 06:05 PM
Response to Reply #30
33. Can you imagine any people who cannot garden? Can you think of any possible circumstances where
   
that can be true?

Think.

 
 

nc4bo   (1000+ posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 06:26 PM
Response to Reply #33
42. Any thing is possible and nothing is totally impossible. nt

   
 
 

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 06:52 PM
Response to Reply #42
48. What a fine way to wipe away those who lack your level of affluence.

   

 

nc4bo   (1000+ posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 07:13 PM
Response to Reply #48
53. Sorry you feel that way bobbolink. There are tons of resources available
   
Edited on Wed Mar-30-11 07:40 PM by nc4bo
about a variety of gardening topics that fits nearly every circumstance including community gardening. Unless you live in a cave 24/7, at the bare minimum you can grow yourself some basil, mint or chives in your windowsill. If in a cave, try some mushrooms.

I can only speak from the heart and personal experience and although there are some things I can never accomplish in this lifetime, it won't ever because I haven't put forth the effort of trying.

Unless I'm paralyzed, extremely disabled in mind or body in some way, I'll give something a try.

If I am successful in this accomplishment than I'm more than happy to share it with others.

If you lived close to me, I more than likely would share with you what I had grown whether you can't (for whatever reasons) grow something or choose not to. Honestly, just reading your postings here, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if you used the back of my head as target practice with some of those very same vegetables.

 

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 09:06 PM
Response to Reply #53
79. Please tell me how I can grow basil chives and all that IN MY CAR.
   
I asked all of you to imagine circumstances where people cannot do wht you are preaching.

I am appalled that there is so much resistance to understanding that not everyone has your life.

Thinm about it.

 

nc4bo   (1000+ posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 09:20 PM
Response to Reply #79
83. I'm not going to argue with you bobbolink
   
instead I'm going to simply wish you peace.

 

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 09:34 PM
Response to Reply #83
89. What you can do is to broaden your awareness, and be more sensitive to those who aren't in your
   
situation,

That USED to be a "progressive" value.

What happened to that?

Turning your back when it has been shown that you aren't paying attention to others is very sad. That is in no way "peace".

I believe it is possible to admit to a shortcoming, and to correct it.

Maru Kitteh   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 11:42 PM
Response to Reply #89
123. "I believe it is possible to admit to a shortcoming, and to correct it."
   
Awesome. You should get to work on that. Or have you none?

 

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 11:42 PM
Response to Reply #123
124. It was a mirror for you,, love.
   
All that sweetness is giving me a toothache.

 

ProudDad   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 09:54 PM
Response to Reply #79
95. Your car can transport you to a place where people can grow food.
   
You are not as helpless as you allow yourself to think you are...

 

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 10:05 PM
Response to Reply #95
102. And all of those people will welcome me with open arms and share it all with me.
   
RIIGGGGHHHHT.

Just like at DU.

Telling fairy tales does not change reality.

Seems like bobbo's DUmp account was hijacked last week when she was, for once, not regularly bitching about homelessness.  Now she is back at it.  I expect BadCat to return anytime.
 

[Skul]

nc4bo   (1000+ posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 06:03 PM
Response to Reply #28
30. So what's wrong? Think you have a brown thumb or something?

Perhaps, sir, y'all shouldn't be poking it up somewhere it don't belong.

[Jason]

bobbo stirring more shit:

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 06:12 PM
Response to Reply #34
36. Good for you. I guess that means that those who can't are total losers.
   
I get so tired of this superior attitude by people who insist that they are open minded and fair.

hatrack   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 06:14 PM
Response to Reply #36
37. Two words - "Community Gardens"
   
Teh Google - it's your friend.

bobbolink   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 06:15 PM
Response to Reply #37
38. You really don't get it, do you? Some people just aren't like you.
   
Edited on Wed Mar-30-11 06:18 PM by bobbolink
The hostility in "teh google" is appalling.

How to Win Friends and Influence People. 

Something about post number 38 really got the DUmmies going:

Name removed (0 posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 06:17 PM
Response to Reply #38
39. Deleted sub-thread
   
Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Name removed (0 posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 10:25 PM
Response to Reply #38
106. Deleted sub-thread
   
Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

And more yet.  Lots of TBB (Typical Bobbo Behavior) in this thread.

 

[LC EFA]

nc4bo   (1000+ posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 06:26 PM
Response to Reply #33
42. Any thing is possible and nothing is totally impossible. nt

So... Bush really did win that election and there really were WMD found in Iraq ?

Maru Kitteh   (1000+ posts)             Wed Mar-30-11 11:42 PM
Response to Reply #89
123. "I believe it is possible to admit to a shortcoming, and to correct it."
   
Awesome. You should get to work on that. Or have you none?

Awesome post. Shame it went right over hobobobos vacuous skull.

[catsmtrods]

Do they not have community gardens in Colorado? Around here every little town has one and someone with all the time that Bobo has could make it an Eden! Maybe she's a cripple and can't get out of the Buick? No, I know its just a whineing lazy bitch that wants everything givin to her.

[zeitgeist]

Just when the party was rockin, in wanders spitohui to hock a huge luggie in the punch bowl.

pitohui (1000+ posts)       Wed Mar-30-11 09:45 PM
Response to Reply #35
149. this makes me chuckle, you truly don't know how many calories are in spinach, lettuce, romaine,do u?
 i'm picking your post at random to reply to, there are a million posts like it, i hope you understand that my rant is NOT personal, it's aimed at the whole thread of nice, kind, totally uninformed clueless gardeners out there who apparently never actually tried to raise real food to survive...

"oh yeah i'm so smart to keep from starving i'm a gonna grow me some greens!"

are people really so uninformed? do people really not know that the amount of calories in greens is trivial?

a garden of spinach, butter lettuce, and romaine makes zero difference in your life expectancy, the article talks about "your life depends upon it"/starvation -- ****ing GREENS don't have sufficient calories to extend your life by five ****ing minutes

there's nothing wrong w. a container garden, and there's nothing wrong w. growing herbs and greens, i do it myself, but for ****'s sake, to pretend that it makes a dime's worth of difference in an economic crisis is silly

if you folks believed what you were saying, you would be looking to grow crops that had sufficient calories to sustain life, not freaking herbs and salad greens...

sometimes i wonder about people, i really do, it's like they're robots, words come out but the brain is never engaged

this is not rocket science, even 9 year olds know that a head of lettuce has a trivial amount of calories, that's why bulimics eat the head of lettuce and barf up the chocolate bars

if you think the world is going to end and you won't have enough FOOD, raising greens is going to do **** all, you need a serious plan

if you're just posting or responding to a scare article for entertainment, that's fine, but don't pretend that raising garden greens is a serious source of human calories

we are not cows, i guess if we were, we'd just eat our lawns 

Wow man, major downer.

There shall be no speaking of truth to power at the dump. 

The bobo stuff is certainly worth the read but spithoui really adds fatback to the greens. Time to go get some poke salad.
 

[micmac]

Redford (16 posts)           Wed Mar-30-11 10:03 PM
Response to Original message
101. I grow all of my summer vegetables
   

and a good portion of my winter vegetables on my 15 acres. I planted lots of fruit trees and nut trees, grapes and berries. What I don't eat, can, or dehydrate I give to the local food bank which is about 95% of what I grow. I have always felt that self sufficiency is important in this ever changing world but it is important to be charitable to those who cannot grow food themselves.

This one will not last long if it continues to think self sufficiency is important.

[JohnnyReb]

Yep....gonna buy myself one of those Mantis Tillers with 3 easy payments that you see on TV and plow up the back 40...gonna feed the world out of it.[DU/mode]

[zeitgeist]

Yep....gonna buy myself one of those Mantis Tillers with 3 easy payments that you see on TV and plow up the back 40...gonna feed the world out of it.[DU/mode]

I bought a small 2 cycle similar to the Mantis years ago and ran it until it was beyond repair (no longer could get parts).  Great for borders and foundation gardens.  But you are right, they would be better off trying to plant forty acres with a mule (which, if I understand correctly, should be coming from reparations).   

[BEG]

Bobo HAS to be a mole. It is almost like she is sarcastically throwing the shit they say back at them.

[JohnnyReb]

I bought a small 2 cycle similar to the Mantis years ago and ran it until it was beyond repair (no longer could get parts).  Great for borders and foundation gardens.  But you are right, they would be better off trying to plant forty acres with a mule (which, if I understand correctly, should be coming from reparations).   

You're right, for a 'real' garden, I'd rather have the mule.

[zeitgeist]

Bobo HAS to be a mole. It is almost like she is sarcastically throwing the shit they say back at them.

I been waiting for her to get on her high horse and ask where they thought she was going to store the stuff, her glove box?  I mean that would be precious.
 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Garden as If Your Life Depends On It--Because It Will

Or possibly not.

 

[ScubaGuy]

Bobo will not be happy until DU gets renamed to BoBoIsHomeless.com.  Every post had better consider her needs, and be a solution to her problem.

Actually creating BoBoIsHomeless.com may be a good idea.

Picture of the Buick on the page header, just think of all the articles:

How to spruce up the back seat with a dinette and curtains.
Why Charity isn't an Option (you may have to say thank you).
Don't pool resources, you deserve a McMansion.
Simple Sterno cocktail recipes.


 

[Wineslob]

I'd like to see if anyone can find "Bobo" and actually verify that it "lives" in a Buick.

[Celtic Rose]

Bobo, have you considered filing up your trunk with dirt and trying to grow potatoes and such back there?  When you are parked around town posting on DU, you could leave your trunk open so that your plants get some light, then at night just close it up. 

[BEG]

Bobo, have you considered filing up your trunk with dirt and trying to grow potatoes and such back there?  When you are parked around town posting on DU, you could leave your trunk open so that your plants get some light, then at night just close it up.  

She could use window boxes and just hook them on the windows of her car. She could also get a topsy turvy and hook it to her antenna.  Mmmmm delicious tomatoes.  

[Karin]

Well, pitohui is right of course.  You can't really live on green peppers and a cucumber.  Protein and all that.  And did that one dUmmie tell bobo to grow some mint or basil?  What for, exactly?  Man, they're annoying. 

[JohnnyReb]

Well, pitohui is right of course.  You can't really live on green peppers and a cucumber.  Protein and all that.  And did that one dUmmie tell bobo to grow some mint or basil?  What for, exactly?  Man, they're annoying. 

DUmmies should grow peppermint. At least when you cut it or crush it it smells good.

[DefiantSix]

I'd like to see if anyone can find "Bobo" and actually verify that it "lives" in a Buick.

If she's in the Fort Collins area, as I've heard claimed, I go by the main branch of the Fort Collins library on a regular basis (I've got grandparents and uncles in the cemetery just the other side of it).  I suppose I could keep an eye skinned for a mid- to late- 80s Buick (there is a Starbucks about 3 blocks from the library, she could be stealing wi-fi from them) with some caustic bitch from hell screaming at anyone who passes within earshot about how they owe her a double McMansion with cheese, hanging out of the driver's window.

I don't hold out much hope of spotting her though.  When I first came to Colorado, I was living out of my car in Fort Collins while I was applying for work (I came up ahead of my wife and son).  The rozzers of the FCPD are pretty ruthless about moving the worthless bums along whenever they are encountered.  I actually found that the best place to get a full night's sleep was parked near one of the hangars at the Fort Collins/Loveland airport.

[miskie]

Above - Bobo 'Goes Green'