"Why" #1: Self-Reliance in Troubled Times

Are you concerned about the skyrocketing prices of food?
About gas prices impacting food costs?  About the tightening tentacles of big agri-biz? About Monsanto's lobbyists pushing legislation that would drastically impact the small family farmers? About the widespread use of genetically modified seeds?    I am.  The more I learn, the more concerned I become.  Consider also that:

• One in seven Americans is now on food stamps, according to the Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/05/03/about-1-in-7-americans-receive-food-stamps/
• Some financial analysts, like the National Inflation Association, are warning about hyper-inflation If that happens, how many Americans will go hungry?  http://www.inflation.us/
• Global food reserves are at an all time low. 
• Global food prices are at an all time high, even higher than in 2008, when hunger riots erupted from Haiti to Morocco .http://www.grist.org/article/food-2011-01-12-lester-brown-the-food-bubble-is-bursting
• Community food banks have been stretched thin and had to turn people away in the last year.
• Food and commodity prices have raised, as much as up to 39% according to some sources. 

When we look around the world news it can be easy to get discouraged, with so many things out of our control. Growing our own food is one thing that is IN our control.

Gardening isn't cheap. Yet it's a way we can be more self reliant. It's also addictive.  (As is eating!)

Veggies from my garden

 I just added up the money I've spent the last three years on fruit trees and grow boxes. Over a thousand dollars. You can see from the photo that I've grown lovely but VERY EXPENSIVE food! One cabbage, some peppers, a box of tomatoes, some berries, and three pears, so far.

However, I count that money as "sunk costs".  I bought more than food.

• I bought peace of mind.  
• I bought more self-reliance.
• I obtained the ability to produce my own pesticide free food. 
• I bought FUN.  Traipsing out to the fence on a summer's morn accompanied by birdson and butterflies to hunt ruby red jewels amongst the dark green leaves is sheer, simple joy.  
• I even bought memories for my grandchildren, who love picking those red juicy raspberries in Gigi's backyard.

So far, I've spent over a thousand dollars on AeroGardens.  What have I traded those dollars for?

In addition to the ability to grow year round, pesticide free tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, peppers, daily  green salad, and herbs, I've acquired:

Beauty. Life. Pleasure. Fun. Oxygen. Cleaner air. Self reliance. Preparedness. Tax write offs for years to come.  And a wonderful stream of income that taps right into today's biggest trends, with a solid, rising company.

If I'm not dependent on commercial food production, I won't have to worry about going hungry or sickly if AHBL. (All H--- Breaks Loose).  If there's a terrorist biohazard attack in repercussion for Osama Bin Laden's execution, or a nuclear power plant melts down and the soil is tainted, like in parts of Japan. . . well. . . I have my Aerogardens. I'm okay.

Sugar Snap Peas, planted 4 days ago

And if not; well, then. . .  Hurrah!

I have peace of mind.
The same pleasure I get strolling through my raspberry patch is already being equalled by the delight of
seeing peas sprouting
growing 4 inches in a week
and reaching for the light
right here in my kitchen.

. . And the sturdy stalks and healthy leaves on my 3 week old heirloom tomato plants are making me smile!

So, do I think folks should only grow indoors this year? Not bother to plant a garden outside?  NO~

I think you should plant, if you possibly can, outside.

And if you live in an apartment, a townhouse, or a condo,
 you should have Aerogardens. More than one.

And if you live in a home in the suburbs, I think you should have  Aerogardens.

And if you live on a farm in Minnesota or Park City or Vegas, where the season is short, you should have Aerogardens.

In short, I think we should all be more responsible for providing the food that goes into our mouths, every single day, no matter what.

It just makes sense in these uncertain times.