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[ceridwen]

Where IS all this food everyone is said to be growing?

Having been on a long bus ride in my area yesterday it struck me forcibly that I literally hadn't spotted one single bit of food growing in any of the numerous gardens I had passed.

I'm envious of all these houses with decent gardens - as I've only a tiny little backyard (and a large part of that is overshadowed by a massive great wall - thus reducing food-growing opportunities even more).

Nevertheless, I have "girded my loins" and I'm having a go - so I've got some tomato plants, a spaghetti squash, a courgette plant and a nasturtium in that teensy bit of backyard that DOES get a fair bit of sun and am having a go at growing a couple of types of salad leaves in some trays on the kitchen windowsill to see what happens.

A conversation started up on the bus between me and several of the other passengers - and another one joined in saying "I was just thinking about what I heard you saying - you're right - come to think of it - I haven't seen any either! Why should all these supermarkets have our money?".

So - come on Britain - get out those trowels and Dig for Victory (only this time round Victory consists of getting Britain to produce more than the teensy 48% of its own food that is all we produce at present).

Our level of "food security" as a nation is appallingly low.

(Having been called "the resident queen of linkies" then I cant end without giving an apt one:

www.growingcommunities.org

and rocketgardens produce "readymade" food plants sold on line if, like me, the thought of growing them from seed is all too much or you dont have the space.

Further inspiration is on Rosengeranium's blog (she is a Swedish indoor gardener - but the blog is written in English):

http://indoorgardener.blogspot.com/

(I rather like her 7 June post on rooftop gardens).

[Davesnave]

Don't worry, when the economic downturn really takes hold and as food prices continue to soar, many more people will rediscover their green-fingered side.

[MRSMCAWBER]

Morning

Well i have the bug ..although im having to make do with tubs at the moment...
My mum, at the age of 69 has had 3 huge raised beds made from sleepers in her garden, along with the shed and 2 greenhouses and she is having the time of her life...

here is where im up to so far.... and have started reaping the rewards already

[Lotus-eater]

Originally Posted by Davesnave

Don't worry, when the economic downturn really takes hold and as food prices continue to soar, many more people will rediscover their green-fingered side.

Don't bet on it.

Most food is grown in the back garden, so you wouldn't have seen it. No idea how many people are growing food now, it is more than before.

[lindseykim13]

Originally Posted by MRSMCAWBER

Morning

Well i have the bug ..although im having to make do with tubs at the moment...
My mum, at the age of 69 has had 3 huge raised beds made from sleepers in her garden, along with the shed and 2 greenhouses and she is having the time of her life...

here is where im up to so far.... and have started reaping the rewards already

I grow my own in the front garden so the kids get the back and i also have a lotty, anyone who comes to my house say's its a good idea, but how does your garden look so tidy? lol i have pallets, wood, netting, compost everywhere!

[mary43]

Judging by all the people one here seems like quite a lot are 'having a go'....we do what we can with the space we've got..........two courgette plants, numerous tomatos,two lots of runner beans, chillis (we hope -so far so good) and two lots of carrots and potatos................all in pots, but it works for us. We've been doing it for a few years now but this is a first for tomatos in hanging baskets and carrots in pots

[GreenNinja]

My garden can't be seen from the road... its only postage stamp size and part of it is in perpetual shade but have done some tubs with salad leaves, aubergine plant, butternut squash plant, tomatoes, spring onions, and also a few runner bean plants growing up the fence. Oh and have put 2 window boxes up at the front which I am growing various herbs in.

Wish me luck!

[lhd4]

i havebeen growing veg in our back garden for a while. this year its on hold while we reorganise the garden for our 1 yr old and 2 1/2 y/o. My o/h is putting his consruction skills to thetest and trying to make a hen house. We are planning to have chickens in the next fewmonths ( ex-battery) i cant wait

[Davesnave]

Originally Posted by Lotus-eater

Don't bet on it.

Most food is grown in the back garden, so you wouldn't have seen it. No idea how many people are growing food now, it is more than before.

Well there's certainly more interest than 20 years ago. Then, I was able to rent two 200 square metre allotments because there was no demand. Now there's a waiting list.

As to the food issue, I don't subscribe to the view that there will be a few years of pain and then back to the status quo. The era of cheap food is ending fast, never to return, which may be just as well, as much of our past advantaged position was gained by keeping others disadvantaged. Also, the huge amount of food waste many Britons generate, as highlighted in a recent survey, needs addressing.

[Lotus-eater]

Originally Posted by Davesnave

Well there's certainly more interest than 20 years ago. Then, I was able to rent two 200 square metre allotments because there was no demand. Now there's a waiting list.

As to the food issue, I don't subscribe to the view that there will be a few years of pain and then back to the status quo. The era of cheap food is ending fast, never to return, which may be just as well, as much of our past advantaged position was gained by keeping others disadvantaged. Also, the huge amount of food waste many Britons generate, as highlighted in a recent survey, needs addressing.

One of my gardening books starts off with an anecdote about a friend who used to grow all their own food, but then stopped due to food being so cheap. Then, as vegetables became more expensive he dug up his lawn and started again.
This was written in the 70's

I think the main thing that has changed is the organic/ less chemicals thingy. The food costs may make a little difference, but if you have no desire to grow your own, paying an extra £10 a week on your shopping won't make you.

[ceridwen]

Well Mrs McCawber - I've been picturing your photos of loads of containers all put together growing stuff - hence thinking "If she can, I can - and I'll take a leaf out of her book and not necessarily think in terms of conventional garden containers to put the stuff in".

I am inclined to agree with the view that it wont be the "few years of pain" and then back to "business as normal". I think this IS now "business as normal". I also think there is the issue to take into account of the world as a whole is getting short of food - so, in conscience, it feels right to at least try and grow what one can of one's own food (to save having to take quite so much from the "communal amount") even if one can manage without the financial savings.

[Scarlett25]

I've tried growing food in my garden but after slugs, flies and various other pests ate it I grow things in my small greenhouse now!

At the moment I've got tomatoes, hanging cherry tomatoes, lettuces, spring onions and strawberries growing and I'm seeing if I can grow peppers from seeds I've taken from a red pepper!

[Primrose]

I have a vegetable patch in my back garden, but instead of growing shrubs in the front garden, one border has gooseberry bushes and strawberries and the other border contains black and red currants. And there's a small grape vine up against a south facing fence. The only spare space is reserved for parking the car!

[Davesnave]

So - come on Britain - get out those trowels and Dig for Victory (only this time round Victory consists of getting Britain to produce more than the teensy 48% of its own food that is all we produce at present).

Our level of "food security" as a nation is appallingly low.

Not much response to this thread, though it's probably one of the more interesting ones.

Of course lots of folk are not using their gardens for food production at present, because they either don't need to, or they feel that the effort is not worth the end product. After all, the majority of us live within easy striking distance of a supermarket and, lets face it, a row or two of veg in the front garden isn't going to increase your street cred like a new Chavmobile on the drive!

But, we've already passed Peak Oil and reliable sources suggest we might have 15 years' worth left, if the Chinese and the Indians don't buy too many BMWs, that is. Then what? How does all that foreign food get here if it isn't by oil powered transport?

Hydrogen power? Only in our dreams, I fear.

'Oh, they'll come up with something.' Yes, rationing. Long before the 15 years is up too.

It's a fine balance between 'maintaining growth' and 'doing what's best for the environment,' like it was too difficult to sustain the false economy based upon lending to those who hadn't the means to pay. For years people warned that the Crash would come, and nobody listened.

Now, we hear that the government is 'listening.' What a cop out! Some sections of the electorate are squealing because they're feeling the pinch, but the government should be proactive instead of reactive. It should be planning for the world 10 years hence, not trying to fiddle a bit here and a bit there to ameliorate short-term pain. Great Britain PLC needs a major operation, not a herbal tea and a lie down!

Rant over....I'm off down the garden to step on a few snails.....

[mirry]

people are growing more than before I believe ,
I have increased my pots of veg this year and my friends are all doing the same , I even got a phone call from my sister asking me how to grow lettuce. When walking the dog the other day, I notised some houses were growing runner beans in the front of their houses .

I was in summerfield this week and a bag of 6 apples were £1.90 ,
so I am pleased I have a apple tree now . And the lettuce is £1.69 for a small bag . No wonder people have had enough , if people are not growing vegtables - I bet they have cut back buying them .

[ceridwen]

Originally Posted by Davesnave

Not much response to this thread, though it's probably one of the more interesting ones.

Of course lots of folk are not using their gardens for food production at present, because they either don't need to, or they feel that the effort is not worth the end product. After all, the majority of us live within easy striking distance of a supermarket and, lets face it, a row or two of veg in the front garden isn't going to increase your street cred like a new Chavmobile on the drive!

But, we've already passed Peak Oil and reliable sources suggest we might have 15 years' worth left, if the Chinese and the Indians don't buy too many BMWs, that is. Then what? How does all that foreign food get here if it isn't by oil powered transport?

Hydrogen power? Only in our dreams, I fear.

'Oh, they'll come up with something.' Yes, rationing. Long before the 15 years is up too.

Rant over....I'm off down the garden to step on a few snails.....

Well....you could try eating those snails Rather you than me on that one But yes....I think its "nuts" (not of the nutritional variety) to trust "them to come up with something"...I don't think so. I see they now have a scientific advisor talking about "food security".....well, let's just hope he speaks at a rate of knots and they listen and act.

I wouldnt think so much that it could be rationing per se - but rationing of a sort certainly...ie rationing by price (if you've got money you can have it - if you haven't then tough).

There is a natural human tendency not to plan very far ahead...and I do understand this...it is scary to take a good clear look round to work out how best to live one's life..taking into account the society one finds oneself in. But personally - I wish I had done so a good deal sooner than I did...so I do think it is necessary for us all to take that good clear look at our own available resources and at the level of resources available on a larger scale.

Au contraire on the street cred front - I think it would gain someone on the street cred front to rip up the front lawn and plant vegetables instead

[olly300]

Originally Posted by ceridwen

Au contraire on the street cred front - I think it would gain someone on the street cred front to rip up the front lawn and plant vegetables instead

In my area you do see people growing veg in their front garden because their back garden gets no sun. So on one side of a street you will see people growing veg in their front garden but on the other side you won't see people growing veg from the road at all.

In addition there are a lot of flats like mine who do have gardens or balconies at the back, and you won't see us growing veg from the street.

[jawa1]

For the first time ever veg seeds out sold flower seeds at B&Q this year.

[SEE]

Originally Posted by ceridwen

Where IS all this food everyone is said to be growing?

Having been on a long bus ride in my area yesterday it struck me forcibly that I literally hadn't spotted one single bit of food growing in any of the numerous gardens I had passed.

I'm envious of all these houses with decent gardens - as I've only a tiny little backyard (and a large part of that is overshadowed by a massive great wall - thus reducing food-growing opportunities even more).

Nevertheless, I have "girded my loins" and I'm having a go - so I've got some tomato plants, a spaghetti squash, a courgette plant and a nasturtium in that teensy bit of backyard that DOES get a fair bit of sun and am having a go at growing a couple of types of salad leaves in some trays on the kitchen windowsill to see what happens.

A conversation started up on the bus between me and several of the other passengers - and another one joined in saying "I was just thinking about what I heard you saying - you're right - come to think of it - I haven't seen any either! Why should all these supermarkets have our money?".

So - come on Britain - get out those trowels and Dig for Victory (only this time round Victory consists of getting Britain to produce more than the teensy 48% of its own food that is all we produce at present).

Our level of "food security" as a nation is appallingly low.

(Having been called "the resident queen of linkies" then I cant end without giving an apt one:

www.growingcommunities.org

and rocketgardens produce "readymade" food plants sold on line if, like me, the thought of growing them from seed is all too much or you dont have the space.

Further inspiration is on Rosengeranium's blog (she is a Swedish indoor gardener - but the blog is written in English):

http://indoorgardener.blogspot.com/

(I rather like her 7 June post on rooftop gardens).

Hi there, I don't know how big your patch is, but if you have a solid wall and some sunshine try this

Build yourself a frame onto the wall, 8ft fence posts are ideal, and treated against rot.

Stagger the fence posts, and fasten chicken wire to them to make pockets, and you can then grow your fruit and veg vertical. Line your pockets with old wooly jumpers, or moss My design is attached, but excuse it, it's a bit rushed. When you can't grow out, grow up

[ceridwen]

I was going to put comments/useful links re this thread on here

- but didnt want to "double up" - so have put them on today's entry (ie 15 June) on my blog:

http://chezceridwen.blogspot.com/

Right - now really must go and water my own plants!