Comments on: The Global Food Crisis & You

By: Food price rises and Crisis!!!!

Food price rises and Crisis!!!! — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:32:13 +0000

Asian countries being major producer and suppliers to the world are changing their economic pattern to urbanized growth resulting reduced agricultural land and its produce. Urban related economic growth thrusts agricultural land conversion to cities and building to accommodate urban population and industries. Over 20% of farm lands of developing countries have been converted to cities and buildings for the past decades and Over 50% of farmlands of villages (close to cities) got merged with cities. Check my Ariel photo which clearly indicate the steep rise in urbanization.

By: Brett

Brett — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:52:21 +0000

Great post, I’ve expanded my garden 10 fold for this season. And cut the nasty meat habit 2 years ago.

200 lbs of meat per person consumed annually per the USDA in 2006. Thats just too much fat and heart clogging nastiness for me!

Well written, me likey

Regards from rVa.

PS. a suggestion to Lorena, have you considered using rainwater collection for your drip irrigation system?

By: Lorena

Lorena — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:43:19 +0000

I started growing veggies like three years ago and have had mixed results in Mich. weather. I spent $300 putting a water-dripping system in the garden (has about 8 beds) and another bunch in several timmers. I’ve been succesfull with tomatoes (although it looks like it would be more productive and water-friendly to grow those in pots) lettuce, cucumbers and zucchini.
The two first years I grew plants form seed, but those froze and then I had to buy grown plants. I gave up growing stuff from seed and I’m planning not to do that this year.
Meijers is gonna sell organic plants now so I’m planning to buy them there. (I do not use artificial fertilizer in the garden bc that kinda’ defeats the purpose of growing you own veggies, doesn’t it?)

By: Raising Money for Local Food Bank « Moon Dreams & Day Beams

Raising Money for Local Food Bank « Moon Dreams & Day Beams — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:35:29 +0000

[...] woman trying to raise money for local food bank trying to eat on only $30 a month- no freebies. http://ricebeansmixedgreens.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/the-global-food-crisis-you/ via Stephanie (Thanks [...]

By: Ashima

Ashima — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:59:08 +0000

Elsie – We planted some tomatos a few years ago and had a bounty, and it was on our deck. Container gardening is easy and I think the question you ask about “what to buy and what to build” is a good one. Think to yourself, what is something I’d like to have easy access to on a regular basis. We like basil & rosemary, so we plant it every year in our flower boxes. So, when we spontaneously invite 20 friends over for a cookout, we have those available quickly and inexpensively. So, let the discussion begin!

Marie – great post. I’ve been thinking a lot about the price of rice, particularly because in my family we eat a lot of rice. I worry about this global food crisis, but even in our own home town we have food pantries running out. It’s crazy. A few weeks ago I saw that food prices have jumped 4% and with the gas prices leaping forward, how are those who can barely make it going to survive. Teaching them to grow their own is a great idea. Supporting Blanford is a perfect thing! Keep up the good work and great posts. You can do it!

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:50:01 +0000

Elsie – It depends on your goals. Michigan potatoes are (currently) cheap and plentiful; but another take on potatoes is that they yield by far the most calories and nutrition per acre. John Jeavons, father of biointensive gardening, says 70% of your garden should grow high carbon calorie crops like grains (feeds you and the soil); 20% should be nutrient-dense things like carrots, beets, and squash, and 10% should be market and salad crops like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers. For a garden that supplements my diet (as opposed to providing most of my food), I pick things that I eat all the time, that grow easily, and that store well. I’d never have a garden without kale!

By: ricebeansmixedgreens

ricebeansmixedgreens — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:04:56 +0000

@bigbinder – It really is a tremendous coincidence that all of these food shortages are happening in the middle of this project. I’m learning how to eat chickweed & daylilies just as people in the developing world are starving from lack of wheat and rice. Crazy stuff.

@Elsie – I don’t have any specific references for you, but I personally like to grow things that are expensive, hard to find, or yield well in small spaces. For example, cherry/grape tomatoes are kind of spendy and can be turned into sundried tomatoes, which are even more spendy. They also grow extremely well in pots and beds. Herbs of all sorts are another good choice.

Personally, I’d skip potatoes and other land intensive crops. They’re very cheap in the stores.

By: Elsie

Elsie — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:12:01 +0000

Great posts! I know this is subjective, based on what people like to eat, but I wonder what is the most cost effective home garden to grow? I am debating what I want to plant this year and one thing I keep asking myself is “What do I want to buy at the farmer’s market vs. what to I want to grow myself?” Have you ever come across any discussions or articles on this?

Thanks.

By: bigbinder

bigbinder — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:47:24 +0000

Abstract is good. This is a complex issue – food deals with culture and that makes it difficult to sift out.

I thought about your project today when I read that Sam’s Club and Costco were ‘rationing’ rice sales to their customers.