*and by "feed yourself" I mean "produce your own food".
On my drive home from work this evening I listened to an NPR All things considered segment that both worried and energized me. "Facing Planetary Enemy Number One: Agriculture" highlighted the vexing reality that: 1."Farming accounts for a third of all the emissions of greenhouse gases that humans release into the environment." 2. Demand for food is expected to double over the next forty years due to population increase.
Damage done to the environment by big agriculture is a topic that comes up in the news at least twice a week. (But at the moment I can't remember where I've read the most recent articles. New York Times? NPR? If YOU, my attractive and intellectual reader, if you remember please post it as a comment.) The answer to the inevitable head-butt seems consistent: we cannot feed the world with an agricultural system based on petroleum and mass deforestation. The solution lies in local food systems based on time tested crop rotations and a diet dominated by plants.
This is as good a time as any to start living by the Boyscout's motto: be prepared. All you have to do is learn how to grow and eat some plants. If I can do it, you can do it too!
I enjoy your blog--Mary C. sent me your way. I had a plot at the community garden in Littleton Colorado this summer. It was a great way for a townhome dweller to feed herself--the harvest was great and the joy of doing it even better.
ReplyDeleteCiao Bella! I appreciate the comment and I'm glad you brought up community gardens. They are a great way for city dwellers to stay connected to their food production and nature. It's a great blog topic too; I'll look into more. Thanks again!
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