How Do I Solve The Hunger Gap For My Family?
In PART I, Here I discuss what is The Hunger Gap, and what it means for me, and my growing, gardening, and sustainability. Here, in *Part II I want to talk about How much it takes to grow, to feed a typical person. now, much of this will be an AVERAGE. You personally need to adjust to fit your own food tastes, where you live, and what you prefer to grow and eat. I did for my list!
As mentioned above, IT DEPENDS
Bit of a Cop Out isn't it?
Anyone, enough of the disclaimers, let's get to it.
First, the fine print
I've been reading on the subject and making notes for a few months now. This is combined from MANY sources: The Farmer's Almanac, The USDA, Many online gardener's mentioned here in my video about Most Influential Gardeners on YouTube! I prefer getting my Data from a few sources, rather than rely on any ONE single source. Red Gardens (above youtube link), The Farmer's Almanac, and USDA are good guides. I adjusted, based on our personal interests, and eating habits.
...but we live in the North?
Another major factor I need to consider when thinking about this Hunger Gap issue, is what can I realistically grow? Or, how can I solve the WINTER COLD?
Do I need to drastically change my diet? Can I grow more indoors? Should I seriously consider a Green house? Doesn't a greenhouse add a month early spring and add a month, later fall? I believe, eventually, I will add a greenhouse, to grow for a longer season. It's just not in the cards, right now. $$$ mainly.
... but can't I just go shopping at the market to get food?
If I learned anything from the Pandemic, CoVid, and Global Supply Chain Shortages, it is that I need to be more self-sufficient. Period. I trust the world. I trust everyone. But. NO.
I want to ensure my family is fed. With Healthy food. AND Growing it myself means ensuring it is NOT going to have a huge Carbon Footprint. Buying food that doesn't naturally grow near me in my winter
As a Photographer, of , means someone far away is growing it, and shipping it via trains, boats and trucks, and those all impact the world, the environment, and the animals and birds near me. As a Photographer, of wildlife, and Nature, I see it first hand. Don't comment, and don't be an ass and deny reality.
...but enough of the whining, get to what we want: HOW MANY PLANTS PER PERSON!
So, here's what I am thinking in terms of my PLANTS Per Person:
| no. Plants | Plant | grow now: ✔ grow enough: ✔✔✔ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-10 | Asparagus | no | It takes 2 to 3 years before harvest but can last up to a decade |
| 10-15 | Beans | starting this year | Plant successive crops every two weeks for a continuous harvest; great for canning, freezing |
| 1-5 | Brussels Sprouts | ✔ | We lov 'em, but struggle to grow 'em: This is my YEAR! |
| 10-30 | Carrot | ✔✔✔ at least 30 per! | I a going to start freeze drying, to save more of the harvest |
| 1-2 | Celery | ✔✔✔ | I grow all winter, indoors and save seeds |
| 10-12 | Corn | no | Not enough space, now |
| 1-6 | Cucumber | ✔ | Currently 3-4 plants, and am pickling them for winter saving: |
| 1-3 | Eggplant | ✔ | New to me, this year |
| 12-16 | Garlic | ✔✔✔ | I use a lot, so, we need to plant more. Fall planting, saves very well |
| 4-10 | Lettuce | ✔✔✔ | I already succession plant, and grow over winter indoors: |
| 6-25 | Onion | ✔✔✔ | I grow enough... wait, I need MORE! Stores great: |
| 15-30 | Peas | ✔ | I need to plant many more, and also, succession plant |
| 1-5 | Peppers | ✔✔✔ | I am adding about 2 plants per person to my garden to get to success. NEED to solve saving for overwinter |
| 4-6 | Potato | ✔ | I have two harvest of about 12 plants, which is close. I am adding two more per person, per harvest. I will need to solve longer storage Overwinter. |
| 4-12 | Spinach | ✔✔✔ | I grow over winter indoors |
| 1-3 | Squash | ✔ | Adding 2 new varieties, hope to Save for Winter |
| 1-5 | Tomato | ✔✔✔ | We grow about 20 per person, and give away a LOT. Cherries: Grow one per person; slicing: grow one to two per person; paste: grow three to four per person |
| 1-3 | Zucchini | ✔ | Flowers are also edible. Need to solve Overwintering |
| 1/4 Acre | Wheat | no | Not enough space. I guess there are substitutes, for making bread. That could be an option as well? |
... but what's next?
Ok, I can start by growing a bit more each season. I can also fairly easily add some indoor growing: Lettuces, Spinachs, Arugula, Herbs.
BUT, can I grow larger veggies indoors? Pepper? Tomato? Cucumber? I am trying an experiment with 6 Tomato I planted 2 months early. I want to see what will happen? Can I get fruit indoors? How much earlier than typical outdoor growing? Each month cuts down on The Hunger Gap.
... but what's Long Term?
GREENHOUSE
Ideally, long term is a Greenhouse I can grow some food in Year Round. Failing Year Round, I can at the very least extend my growing season. This will take more money, and more time. BUT, I need to get there.
FRUIT
I spent the day, pruning my raspberries. Close enough to me are blueberries growing wild, that I pick, for fresh food, for freezing, and for making Blueberry jelly. I also pick Beach Plum for making Jelly. I want to eventually add a couple pear trees, and a couple of apple trees. PERHAPS, a peach tree? I know this season I will be growing strawberries, for Fresh, For Making Jelly, and for freezing.
At some point I need to begin growing my own grapes, and blueberries here. There are empty wine bottles that are lonely. I last made wine 30 plus years ago.
PROTEIN
The easiest and fastest way to add Protein to self sufficiency, is raising chickens. Fresh EGGS, and the chicken meat are a solution. Of course, that means a BIG commitment.
Some also raise Pigs, but I am not at all interested in THAT level of commitment to Sustainability and Homesteading.
More Protein?
As a kid, I grew up hunting with my dad, and that's certainly one choice. I haven't been out in years, but it is an option, around here. Turkey, Rabbit, and Deer are the usual, bear and moose are not unheard of. I am not ready for that time, and energy yet.
Faster Protein
I live nearby to an ocean. I own a boat. It turns out, protein is all over! There's sea life in abundance! I can put my lobster pots back into the bay. Collecting these weekly, cooking then freezing will give me some available protein all winter. Catching, cooking, and freezing fish, too will solve more of the issue. Shellfish, like the abundant Mussels, Sea Clams, Cherrystones, and Quahogs are another solution. Collecting shellfish and making and freezing clam chowder, and stews is a solution and an easy to do step.
Wheat?
We make our own bread on occasion. Making more from scratch is a good idea. Even better, is growing Wheat for flour. The yield per acre of wheat is about 50 bushels. Each Bushel of Wheat is about 60 pounds, which translates into about 3000 pounds of wheat grain. Per Acre. Right now, we do not have the space for that kind of growing and sowing. but, we need to address it.
Meanwhile, the biggest issue, is, I need to solve planting for THIS:
Maybe if I plant enough of these, I will not encounter any more toilet paper shortages, in my lifetime.?
And that makes me smile... better for the planet, better for my own family.
Leave me a comment, below...
and a link to your #GroVid22 garden!
your own health and your own lives.
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