Even though hippies-in-the-know have long spoken out against industrialized farming, the growing disconnection from the farmer and land, the overuse of pesticides and genetically modified crops, it seems as if the mainstream has finally caught on to the fact that we are in the middle of a deadly food crisis.
Backyard Gardening
Backyard gardening is coming back in vogue due to a growing concern about food security, a desire to decentralize food production control from a few multi-nationals, and to reduce the miles food travels from farmer to plate. The food sustainability movement is growing with North American communities advocating for residents to turn their lawns into gardens, schools growing edible landscapes and offices and hospitals putting in fruit trees.
One person could live on somewhere between 150-600 square feet of land.
Figures vary on exactly how much land is needed to feed a family of four with enough vegetables for a year – from 600 square feet to 2400 square feet. City Farmer, an agriculture advocacy group, estimates that one person could live on somewhere between 150-600 square feet of land. Even if individuals are not able to live entirely off of their land, it is important to start growing food in all available space — from garden plots to balcony container gardens. When space permits, adding in fruit trees and a small flock of free-range backyard chickens to fertilizer the gardens and keep slugs down, will greatly improve self-reliance and reduce your overall household carbon footprint. Reclaiming urban space for food production will help rebuild the gap between farm and city.
Agricultural Land
Currently the demarcation between agricultural land and suburban space has never been greater in North America. Food is now grown in fields far away, out of sight and suburban landscapes are covered in lawns. Yet the unfortunate reality is that new development or city sprawl is often being built on precious farmlands. In addition to the destruction of farmlands, the farm land is eroding due to unsustainable farming methods. Elizabeth Henderson, author of Sharing The Harvest, writes that each year farms lose an average of 7.7 tons of soil per acre.
An average North American meal made with ingredients from a supermarket takes 4 to 17 times more petroleum consumption in transport than the same meal made from local ingredients.
Food Miles
Food miles refer to the distances much of our North American food travels from field to plate. Our desire to have strawberries in December, pineapple in November and ripe tomatoes year round is, literally, costing us the earth. British Columbia-based FarmFolk/CityFolk explain how, “the average North American meal travels 2,400 km to get from field to plate and contains ingredients from 5 countries in addition to our own.” A 2002 Worldwatch report demonstrates an average North American meal made with ingredients from a supermarket takes 4 to 17 times more petroleum consumption in transport than the same meal made from local ingredients.
Community Gardens
Numerous cities and neighborhoods offer community garden plots where, for a small fee, individuals are able to grow their fruit and vegetables in allocated plots. Most community gardens offer growing space for a reasonable price, access to water, communal tools and an environment of supportive community garden farmers. Food Share, a Canadian food advocacy group, reports that most community garden plots range from $15 -$50, however some offer growing space free of charge.
Resources
City Farmer: http://www.cityfarmer.org/
Food Not Lawns: http://www.foodnotlawns.com/
Food Share Garden: http://www.foodshare.net/
Primal Seeds: http://www.primalseeds.org/
Seeds of Diversity: http://www.seeds.ca/
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