Back to the Land

[Tesha]

http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/back-to-the-land/?th&emc=th


an inspiration on eating well


Back to the Land

[Warpy]

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 veggies.

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]

2. years ago I half an acre in production...

heaven, with dirty fingernails - but it's true... oh, fresh peas....
some veggies 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 veggies? Or are there other issues

[Warpy]

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.

[katkat]

5. warpy

grey water? Is that okay for veggies?

[Warpy]

6. I live alone and don't produce enough

but that's what I use on the shrubs and containers of geraniums.

[hippywife]

4. We are doing that as much as possible

by only buying our meat from local farmers who use sustainable practices and growing our own veggies in season. We've also planted native sand plums which should yield fruit in a few years. Also keeping chickens for our eggs. I haven't bought eggs in a store in probably three years now and the ones we collect from our girls are so much better.

:hi: