Food
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Growing food at home makes a lot of sense. Having a close connection with food
is very satisfying, plus you know where it comes from. Local organic is the
choice if you can't grow your own but even a small garden is a wonderful home
asset. People grow veges even in containers on a balcony.
Trends in the realm of food are mixed. The organic food industry is becoming
increasingly mainstream, growing at a 20% per year increase that totaled over
12 Billion dollars last year. Large conglomerates are buying up small organic
companies. Local farmers markets are on the increase nation wide. Still, conventional
dominates with its pesticides, herbicides, GMOs and increasing distance from
source to the store.
The conventional food industry in the US is far more fragile than most could
imagine. It is highly dependent on cheap petroleum for its fertilizer, tractors
and transportation to ever more distant destinations. Modest disruptions in
an increasingly subject to disruption world suggests local sources make a lot
of sense. Water, politics [often related to water], increasing population, an
environment in shameful condition and many many other factors all combine for
a mainstream food supply that deserves an alternative.
Much of my purpose for these changes to my 1/4 acre revolve around food. Water
storage, sheet mulching, coldframes all are for growing food. Taking care of
plants that make food in one's back yard is a joy. I love to plant, water, harvest,
eat/preserve my food. Learning how to use my own assets is an ongoing education
and discovery. My strategy includes growing food for as much of the year as
I can. The coldframes help with this. I grow keepers like potatoes, garlic,
winter squash, apples and onions. I can tomatoes, peaches, jam. My freezer is
great for frozen berries. Canning is a way to keep tomatoes and other veges.
Drying is also an important food saving process. This year, I plan to grow and
then dry a larger amount of fresh beans to dry. I grow and store several kinds
of winter squash.
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Coldframe extends the season.
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Hedgerow growing. Fruit trees, blackberries, perennial in guild.
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Friends making wine and jam together. Fun
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Keepers. Canned jam, toms. Wine, winter squash, dried veges, fruit. Frozen
fruit, veges.
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Drying squash [home] and mushrooms [bought].
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Planting an English Walnut where there was a cement slab.
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View of garden from roof. June, 2003.
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East fence hedgerow, clouche, chicken condo.
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Front yard from roof. Coldframe, raspberries, blueberries, cherry, filbert
grapes.
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Potatoes, garlic, winter squash.
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See other pages.
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Before
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Carport
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Sheetmulch
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Driveway
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Water
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Habitat
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Coldframes
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Solar
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Food
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CCAT
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Home
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