Food Inflation and self sufficiency.

[Denninmi]

It is said that there will be rather dramatic food inflation in the next few years, specifically in certain foods treated as commodities -- sugar, coffee, cacao among them:

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/31/gross-calls-u-s-budget-a-greek-tragedy/?section=magazines_fortune

Whether or not anyone wants to consider me "primitive" for doing so, I grow and preserve as much of my family's food as possible, and I intend to continue to increase the amount I produce as long as I possibly can, given the rather dire times we all seem to face.

I would strongly encourage those with the ability to produce a part of their own food supply to do so. Spring is here (or, well, in Michigan, rumored to be coming at some point in the distant future) -- there is no better time to start a garden or plant an orchard or build a chicken coop and start your own flock.

Some of my crops:

Asian Pears



Wax Melons/Winter Melons



Part of my spring garden a couple of years ago

[Lucinda]

1. We only have a tiny tiny piece of land that we can grown on but

usually grow heirloom tomatoes (a couple types) peppers and herbs. I'd love to have a bigger garden. Your's looks great!

[trud]

2. preserve and store

I'd love to read about and see photos of how you store all this once it's preserved. I have no place for a root cellar, but have a spare bedroom. I'm just not sure what to do about storing root crops, etc. Esp. since there is no temp control there that would keep it cool.

[Phentex]

3. That's a huge space!...

Lucky you. We have a small backyard garden area that we are hoping to have better luck with this year. Our tomatoes did not do well but neither did our neighbors so I don't know what was going on. My sister has a large garden and she shares her bounty which is very nice. There's no denying the food just tastes better! I broke down and bought two tiny squash and one zucchini the other day and I had to look away when the price appeared at the register and tell myself summer's comin'!

I want to see more of your garden as you reap!

[Callalily]

4. You are very lucky to have

the space for your gardens!

Up until two years ago, I had a wonderful organic garden. Nothing compares to fresh produce from one's own garden, nothing like home canned foods.

Unfortunately I can't have a garden at my new place!

[Arkansas Granny]

5. I wish I had that kind of space for gardening. As it is, I only have a small

patch of yard and most of that is in perpetual shade. I'm going to put in a small salad garden this year using a small bed that gets good sun and some containers that can be put wherever the sun shines enough. I have some leaf lettuce and mesclun mix started and ready to set out. I hope to use them for "cut and grow again" salad greens.

I've recently been thinking about stocking up on dried veggies that will last for a long time. I've tried a package of mixed veggies that I added to soups and they are pretty good.

[pengillian101]

6. Wowee! What a garden!

For folks with no land.

<img src=>

[blaze]

7. I just got one of those!

Well, their smallest version.

I started with a cherry tomato plant. Planted it on 3/12 and it's now about 3" tall. Very fun!!!

It was a purchase of cherry toms at the grocery store that tasted like mush that prompted me to give this a try.

Then I saw a larger aerogarden for sale on ebay and I bought/received it. I think I'll grow herbs in it, but haven't decided yet.

[kestrel91316]

8. Unfortunately, my cats would LOVE that.