Vegetable gardening

There is a rally call to for gardeners. Some say it harkens back to the days of 'Victory Gardens' of World War II. At that time, scarcity was real, food and gas prices made things tough, we were at war... Though similar, we are now faced with trials of our own. Vegetable gardening can be a very reasonable addition to our lives.

Here is why:

• Your vegeables have a lower carbon foot print due to no transportation costs. (Average distance traveled for our food items is reported as 1500 miles...)
• You have more control over our food prices. Seeds and small plants offer a great return on your investment.
• You have more control over the food quality. You can grow just the vegetables you want, control how much fertilizer/pesticides you wish to you use, and receive fresh vegetables at your table!
• It's very rewarding to grow your own food! This is the beginning of being more self-sustaining in our lives. Be proud of it!

Links to more information:
Jefferson County Extension Office Gardening Help
The White House Vegetable Garden
PowerShift'09: Climate change and food production
Garden Nerd (a little boost from an LA organic gardener)

A great video on urban organic gardening in Cuba out of shear need. They show a very sustainable way to grow food for themselves.

What to do while waiting

We are all waiting for Spring to really get here. So what can we do while we wait?

• Research new plants or changes to the garden
• Learn the latest techniques in garden care
• Order/purchase our seeds and plants
• Sharpen our tools
• Prioritize our garden to-do lists

The warm weather is drawing near! The waiting can be our preparation time.

Recent books

This is a list of books I've been reading this winter. Some of them are now somewhat dated, but still interesting for folks interested in the "green movement". I would have to say Natural Capitalism was my favorite:
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder by Richard Louv
Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken
Permaculture in a Nutshell by Patrick Whitefield
Science 101: Ecology by Jennifer Freeman
Guerrilla Gardening: A Manualfesto by David Tracey
The Biophilia Hypothesis by Stephen R. Kellert and Edward O. Wilson

Harbinger of Spring

Well, the Witch Hazel is blooming! It is the first plant that blooms for me and I am thrilled because it means Spring is on its way. The one pictured is Hamamelis × intermedia 'Diane', a red variety. Although the blooms are small, they are like fireworks exploding on the scene. If you have snow or cold right now, hang on because hope is on the way!