January 22nd, 2010
© dyogi
Can you save the world by planting your own vegetable seeds?
I saw a news feature recently on how much it costs to haul organic vegetables from Florida and California all around the US. The idea behind the news story was that if you're eating organic vegetables because it's good for the plant (you know, no fertilizer and all of that), then you should be aware of the huge carbon footprint all those tractor trailers leave as they run your squash and lettuce up and down the interstate highways. Of course, there's also the energy involved in refrigeration.
If you're not a tie dyed greenie and you just like organic veggies for some reason, you have to consider that the cost of organic food gets higher and higher each year. So a growing trend in many urban areas is to grow a neighborhood co-op garden. Gardening is good for your wallet, good for the environment, and good for your health.
Did I mention that it's also fulfilling? I personally focus on tomatoes each year. There's just nothing loke a good heirloom tomato – say a Mr. Stripy or a Lemon Boy – that you get to pick the minute it gets ripe and then eat a few minutes later. You feel good about it.
March 26th, 2010 at 4:02 am
Hi Donald, I agree with you on that: to gather your own veggies is fulfilling! I live in a city and don’t have an own garden – but my balcony every year is full with tomatoes, paprica and herbs. So great.