Dig for Victory - Mark II

SEE

silvercharming wrote: »

SEE, that is an awesome set of before and afters! Can I be really cheeky? I've got a little project in mind, could I use your pics (they'd be properly attributed etc) because it is the clearest illustration I can think of that makes my point!

Help yourself:beer:

SEE

Here is another, silvercharming. It might be a bit clearer.

Suzy_M

Re: Individual Self-Sufficiency

OK done a bit more paper digging (it’s too cold and damp to get out in the garden to do proper digging).

No-one has yet done an independent (i.e. completely unbiased!) study on the amount of land needed for individual self-sufficiency but 300 sq. yards (250 sq. metres), the size of an average allotment, was thought to be enough for an ‘average’ meat eating family of four to be self-sufficient in vegetables, soft fruit and top fruit. This is very roughly about 17 yards by 17 yards. However, this goes back to when allotments were first started – post the Industrial Revolution, when we were a lot less squeamish about killing our own meat so the area was also thought to be large enough to keep a few chickens, rabbits for meat and the odd pig and growing some animal feed. It also was based on agricultural techniques – larger distances between rows, space for machinery etc.

With work being done by hand on a garden or allotment, improved knowledge and development of new techniques we know now we can plant crops more densely than was originally thought. I would think 150 square yards would be more than adequate for the ‘average’ meat eating family of four, less if growing more ‘vertical’ crops, and even less if no livestock. Complete vegetarians would however need more land to grow adequate protein crops.

Own experience - I grow enough on a 7 yard by 7 yard vegetable plot for two adults to be self-sufficient and give a small proportion away.

Primrose

See - lovely pictures. The only issue I have with raised beds is that if you have very limited growing space, you can't afford to lose a large proportion of it to paths to allow for access to the beds from either side. I don't have a huge area so to make the maximum use of space available I have one rectangle and plant everything in straight rows, with only enough space between each row to get a hoe in. . This does make weeding a little difficult but once everything starts to grow the weeds tend to get smothered by the vegetables. I just have to try and walk on the ground as little as possible to avoid compaction.

mardatha

SEE, or anybody else who knows, what do you grow in those hanging basket things on the hatstands (!!) please? Also I quite want strawberries cos I love them - but last summer I tried some in a planter and they were constantly covered in black flies so I didnt touch them, really put me off.

RAS

Hi

here is the link to Simon Fairlie information I referred to previously.

http://transitionculture.org/2007/12/20/can-britain-feed-itself/ which I thought interesting.

The other person to look at is John Jeavons http://www.johnjeavons.info/index.html

And if you do not know it, have a read of http://www.dervaesinstitute.org/ , although they and the original Jeavons work was done in climates that allowed two warm weather crops a year.

Picking up on other comments, the rules on chickens and other livestock can be a problem. The allotment society is old fashioned and not keen on livestock, although they are alllowed with consent. However, managing livestock would require people from more than one household if people had any aspirations to go on holiday ever. They may be inefficient converters of high grade crops but they can convert the inedible into the edible, as can livestock on moorland and grassland not suitable for cultivation.

I also see major changes coming at local government level. In my city, municipal planting of trees that are not useful for food or timber is being phased out. The officer negoitiating this was very determined when I advised that non-native trees with limited timber use had been planted in parks. He is almost ecstatic about the possibility of a small local group taking over a redundant area and using it as a a mixed use soft fruit/treefruit/nut tree/small diameter timber (plus possibly bees) demonstration area. If we can get the people and a plan, I think we can get the land with his help and that of a local councillor who is on-side.

My other thoughts are that people need to think outside the box a bit. If we zone as per permaculture ideas, then some things like herbs, salads and some softer fruits and peas need to be grown close to home. Other crops like potatoes, onions, tree fruits, soft fruit that stands, legumes for drying and brassicas can be grown further away from home and perhaps managed by one visit a fortnight even in summer, so land that is available further away can be used as long as the crops are chosen wisely.

The other thing I keep thinking of is of groups buying land co-operatively, say via land bonds and then sharing it. I know one private allotment site which is owned by the plot-holders, each of whom have a single stake (cost £5 which indicates the length of the arrangement) in the plot.

funkydelia

Lotus-eater wrote: »

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

This is exactly what my dad did! He managed to feed a family of 6 off our large garden and greenhouse and its the reason I am so enthusiastic about growing vegetables for my own family now.

There's just nothing like peas straight out of the pod and carrots right out of the ground. Tomatoes just don't smell like tomatoes let alone taste!

RAS

I recall looking out of my office window at the rain and going "Yippee, no watering tonight". A colleague's response was to suggest that I bought my food in the supermarket "like a normal person."

I tried to explain the difference between a freshly picked courgette or a newly dug leek and shop bought stuff and got nowhere. Later I took in a few courgettes cut on the way to work. By the next day, they got it.

Don_Kiddick

Last year for the first time I grew a potato variety called 'Nicola'.

They were listed as a 'First Early' & were very reasonably priced at Wilkinsons (something like £2.49 for a bag of about 50 seed potatoes).

Anyway I planted the lot to see what they would be like...

I'll tell you what, I've never tased spuds like them! They were fabulous.
Ordinary shop bought spuds don't even come close!

Highly recommended. I've not been yet this year to see if they have any more in stock.

SEE

mardatha wrote: »

SEE, or anybody else who knows, what do you grow in those hanging basket things on the hatstands (!!) please? Also I quite want strawberries cos I love them - but last summer I tried some in a planter and they were constantly covered in black flies so I didnt touch them, really put me off.

Strawberries and mixed lettuce in the hanging baskets:D