eGarden © 2008 Ed Mues

July 30, 2008

What's the Buzz in Horticultural Circles?

There's always a lot going on the world of horticulture. The following is an attempt to provide an abbreviated update. So many of these are inter-related even if from different parts of the world. Why? The economy is reflected in every corner of the world community.

CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture efforts) are becoming more common and more popular as the cost of food begins to really hit us all in the pocketbook. Horticultural sectors around the world are experiencing record breaking investments and maximum outputs, with a serious focus on fresh fruits and vegetables. Seems the word has gotten out globally about what is really needed in the family's food basket.

In India which has 17% of the world's banana production, for example, an increase of another million tons over the past several years is spurring research scientists to turn more attention to "developing and releasing papaya fruits of different sizes, colour, taste and sugar content." This according to the All India Coordinated Research Project on tropical fruits. Production in India has exceeded 180 million tons this year. "Real revolution has occurred in horticulture" said Dr. Singh of the India Council Of Agricultural Research.

A Milwaukee based initiative called Growing Power seeks to provide "... healthy affordable food to everyone". Each $14 market package is a brown paper shopping bag filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, enough to feed a family of four for a week. Will Allen, co-founder and CEO of the non-profit urban farm, estimates the same bag would cost $30 in a grocery store. Several drop-off sites are available for those who order in advance, food stamps are accepted, and unlike CSAs, no initial investment is required. It's a "fair price for a bag of food" he says.

A little controversy to stir the pot is always instructive. In the April 29th Mountain Press of Tennessee is the comment of a reader who is amazed that kudzu isn't regarded as "one of the most useful and nutritious plants in existence." He goes on the exclaim "It has more nutrition for livestock than alfalfa. It is useful as a source for paper, fiber, and creating cloth. The huge tuber roots are used as a major source of food in Japan- why not here, too?"

Where will supermarket sticker-shock take us next? More and more folks are taking their efforts back to the earth in an effort to eat better and cut their grocery bills. Container gardening now includes 30-gallon pots and bathtubs. Composting is enjoying a major resurgence. Gardens are expanding. More and more people are raising chickens, hunting, fishing, canning, wine making, jam and jelly making. Many are content to spend as little as $20 per week on groceries they don't raise. They'll purchase items like margarine, sugar and oil. It's about survival in tough times. We're there.

Is it time for entomophagy to become more popular here in America? A February United Nations conference in Thailand explored the fact that people of 113 nations around the world enjoy the inexpensive source of edible protein derived from --- insects. Conference organizer, Patrick Durst, said, "We're not going to convince Europeans and Americans to go out in big numbers and start eating insects." The largest phylum in the animal kingdom, arthropods, includes shrimps, other crustaceans and insects. In many parts of the world they are preferred to what westerners consider conventional meats. Farms raise them in vast quantities for populations that enjoy the leaner and greener protein sources that are sustainable and environmentally beneficial. Some compare the taste to soft shell crab, and predict bug burgers are on the horizon. Cornell University is featuring a fall Insectapalooza, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science has an autumn BugFest, and Purdue University, a spring BugBowl. You might visit Audubon's Insect Cafeteria, "Bug Appetit". It's awesome!

A recent Garden Writers Association survey confirms that 39% of Americans with yards grow some of their own food. Major seed companies report selling twice as many seeds this year than last. Half of the increase is from new customers.

Remember The Whole Earth Catalog? Maybe its time has come, again! I can't find my original, but have all that's necessary.

"If you cannot plant a garden, sow a seed.
If you cannot feed all the hungry, fill one need.
The seed you sow may someday bloom and spread,
and your loaf supply a multitude with bread".

- Anonymous.

From The Garden of Ed. Submitted for publication in The Towne Crier on July 30, 2008

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