Comments on: Food That Hardly Travels at All http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/ Gardening for the People. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:16:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: saskatchewan http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16336 saskatchewan Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:36:08 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16336 I’ve noticed that the large planters I built need a lot less water. The groupings of smaller containers also seem to lend each other some protection and shade (=less water). It’s tricky and it’s certainly something I think about. We’re getting most of our produce this year from a CSA. It’s a good forty minute drive out into the country to pick up. There are four families in the area and we each take turns going out each week. The farmers use a drip irrigation system from the run-off from the organic dairy that they’re paired with. I think it IS good, generally, to try to create those buying relationships with local producers. Part of the problem with getting food (or soil, or peat, or toothpaste, or socks) from a zillion miles away has to do with both the physical and psychological distance from the end consumer. So much less accountable. I’ve noticed that the large planters I built need a lot less water. The groupings of smaller containers also seem to lend each other some protection and shade (=less water). It’s tricky and it’s certainly something I think about.

We’re getting most of our produce this year from a CSA. It’s a good forty minute drive out into the country to pick up. There are four families in the area and we each take turns going out each week. The farmers use a drip irrigation system from the run-off from the organic dairy that they’re paired with. I think it IS good, generally, to try to create those buying relationships with local producers. Part of the problem with getting food (or soil, or peat, or toothpaste, or socks) from a zillion miles away has to do with both the physical and psychological distance from the end consumer. So much less accountable.

]]> By: quant http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16329 quant Thu, 09 Aug 2007 06:31:45 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16329 one of our forum members did some research into peat and sustainability a while ago: http://www.yougrowgirl.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7986 worth reading. plus, she used two puns in the title! :D one of our forum members did some research into peat and sustainability a while ago:
http://www.yougrowgirl.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7986

worth reading. plus, she used two puns in the title! :D

]]> By: Gayla http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16326 Gayla Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:18:26 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16326 Naomi: Coir is better than peat... despite the fact that it is a waste product from coconuts which means it has to travel from tropical locations... proving again that sometimes distance traveled is less harmful than other factors. However the unfortunate thing is that it is harder to come by in some parts of North America especially outside of larger cities. And in many parts of North America peat is still a standard in soiless mixes. We've had lengthy discussions in the forums for example about retailers like Walmart being the only "local" supplier for some people depending on where they live. I can buy bricks of coir here in Toronto to use in making my own container mix. When I do buy a mix instead of making my own the one I buy says it uses peat harvested in a sustainable manner but I have not promoted that product here because it is still not clear to me what the difference is. Naomi: Coir is better than peat… despite the fact that it is a waste product from coconuts which means it has to travel from tropical locations… proving again that sometimes distance traveled is less harmful than other factors. However the unfortunate thing is that it is harder to come by in some parts of North America especially outside of larger cities. And in many parts of North America peat is still a standard in soiless mixes. We’ve had lengthy discussions in the forums for example about retailers like Walmart being the only “local” supplier for some people depending on where they live.

I can buy bricks of coir here in Toronto to use in making my own container mix. When I do buy a mix instead of making my own the one I buy says it uses peat harvested in a sustainable manner but I have not promoted that product here because it is still not clear to me what the difference is.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16325 Stephanie Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:24:49 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16325 For anyone interested in the relationship between water use and crop production the site below is VERY interesting. It explains the concept of virtual water, in other words the amount of water used in the production of a crop and then extends that to the amount of virtual water being traded and exported around the world as that crop is traded. Food for though! http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.php?id=866 For anyone interested in the relationship between water use and crop production the site below is VERY interesting. It explains the concept of virtual water, in other words the amount of water used in the production of a crop and then extends that to the amount of virtual water being traded and exported around the world as that crop is traded. Food for though!

http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.php?id=866

]]> By: naomi http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16324 naomi Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:05:13 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16324 As an ex-Seattle and now DC container gardener, most stores out west didn't sell soil or soil amenders with peat, as it is very damaging to the peat bogs to use it for gardening. Rather, a lot of garden companies have started to use use coir instead of peat, which has similar water retention properties. it's a little different to work with, but I believe much more sustainable. I haven't done lots of homework on this, but it's something worth looking into. As an ex-Seattle and now DC container gardener, most stores out west didn’t sell soil or soil amenders with peat, as it is very damaging to the peat bogs to use it for gardening. Rather, a lot of garden companies have started to use use coir instead of peat, which has similar water retention properties. it’s a little different to work with, but I believe much more sustainable. I haven’t done lots of homework on this, but it’s something worth looking into.

]]> By: Gayla http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16323 Gayla Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:00:39 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16323 I think water is by far the hardest one to achieve with containers. In addition to many of the other water-saving techniques I would also suggest growing in larger containers that won't dry out as quickly. Andie: I've been recently having trouble finding the right molasses locally as well. I'm about to give up and look online. Cristine: It's amazing but books never address the soil issue. I should really do a post about it because people ask. I always reuse my soil but I supplement with fresh container soil and amenders. The old stuff will have no nutritional value. I also do my own form of container crop rotation where I move the soil used for tomatoes and use it for other plants. Elaine: That is great synchronicity. And thanks for the link on the 10 commandments. I think water is by far the hardest one to achieve with containers. In addition to many of the other water-saving techniques I would also suggest growing in larger containers that won’t dry out as quickly.

Andie: I’ve been recently having trouble finding the right molasses locally as well. I’m about to give up and look online.

Cristine: It’s amazing but books never address the soil issue. I should really do a post about it because people ask. I always reuse my soil but I supplement with fresh container soil and amenders. The old stuff will have no nutritional value. I also do my own form of container crop rotation where I move the soil used for tomatoes and use it for other plants.

Elaine: That is great synchronicity. And thanks for the link on the 10 commandments.

]]> By: andie http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16322 andie Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:55:29 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16322 Totally all valid questions every gardner must ask themselves. This year we installed 2 new rain barrells and next year we will install a third. Occasionally, the barrels go dry, and we must use city water for a couple of days until it rains again. We compost in our backyard, and use mulch around everything we can. Good point about containers. The other day we made your rust spray and since i try to figure out how to make everything myself, i was thinking how would i get the sulfur if i couldn't use molasses? Still haven't answered that. :) Totally all valid questions every gardner must ask themselves. This year we installed 2 new rain barrells and next year we will install a third. Occasionally, the barrels go dry, and we must use city water for a couple of days until it rains again. We compost in our backyard, and use mulch around everything we can. Good point about containers.

The other day we made your rust spray and since i try to figure out how to make everything myself, i was thinking how would i get the sulfur if i couldn’t use molasses? Still haven’t answered that. :)

]]> By: andie http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16321 andie Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:54:59 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16321 Totally all valid questions every gardner must ask themselves. This year we installed 2 new rain barrells and next year we will install a third. Occasionally, the barrels go dry, and we must use city water for a couple of days until it rains again. We compost in our backyard, and use mulch around everything we can. Good point about containers. The other day we made your rust spray and i since i try to figure out how to make everything myself, i was thinking how would i get the sulfur if i couldn't use molasses? Still haven't answered that. :) Totally all valid questions every gardner must ask themselves. This year we installed 2 new rain barrells and next year we will install a third. Occasionally, the barrels go dry, and we must use city water for a couple of days until it rains again. We compost in our backyard, and use mulch around everything we can. Good point about containers.

The other day we made your rust spray and i since i try to figure out how to make everything myself, i was thinking how would i get the sulfur if i couldn’t use molasses? Still haven’t answered that. :)

]]> By: quant http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16320 quant Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:16:13 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16320 this is a great, thought-provoking post! i can't think of anything you haven't mentioned here already, but just wanted to add that i've personally become more interested in growing only those things that suit my conditions. also, i've been thinking a lot about using my container garden to offset the groceries i purchase that spoil quickly, etc. certainly water consumption is going to be a major issue next year when i expand to the roof. this is a great, thought-provoking post! i can’t think of anything you haven’t mentioned here already, but just wanted to add that i’ve personally become more interested in growing only those things that suit my conditions. also, i’ve been thinking a lot about using my container garden to offset the groceries i purchase that spoil quickly, etc.

certainly water consumption is going to be a major issue next year when i expand to the roof.

]]> By: Cristine http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16318 Cristine Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:11:31 +0000 http://www.yougrowgirl.com/thedirt/2007/08/07/food-that-hardly-travels-at-all/#comment-16318 Thank you so much for this entry. I've thought a lot about these issues while putting together my first container garden this year. In particular the plastic bags that the soil comes from and how far those bags are being transported. I hadn't given any thought to the bamboo poles I purchased nor did I know you could use your old container soil with added nutrients for the next gardening season(makes sense!) Thank you so much for this entry. I’ve thought a lot about these issues while putting together my first container garden this year. In particular the plastic bags that the soil comes from and how far those bags are being transported. I hadn’t given any thought to the bamboo poles I purchased nor did I know you could use your old container soil with added nutrients for the next gardening season(makes sense!)

]]>