Some time back I wrote about one of the female ministers of Africa, telling of her new social policy exhorting people to go back to growing their own gardens to help feed all families locally… tribal groups had gotten dependent on trucked in food, and between the cost of that kind of food and the falling off of local agriculture, many people were beginning to starve.
Similar DEEP shortages of ability to pay and lack of availible nourishing food have DEFINITELY come to the United States. In fact have been here for several years without press…
–as local farms were bought up and plated over with boxes, little boxes made of ticky-tacky…
–as larger farms were merged and corporatized
–and much harvest exported,
–as homeowner groups forbade people from growing gardens in common areas,
–as community gardens were plowed under for roadways,
–as rules and regulations about who could grow what and where rose up in shortsighted city laws,
–as stepping double time to work at two jobs robs families of time to grow their own fruits and vegetables…
–as housing developments and commercial developments are set down without any ‘grow’ space whatsoever.
–as droughts hang over large parts of the US
–as water is sold to other states
–as granges have disappeared
–as ag colleges and universities no longer have extension programs for the small farmer and large gardener
it goes on…
Yet, in a world where most of us ask, What can we do to help? Here is one soul who has a great option:
By CLARE TRAPASSO from AP
June 08, 2008LANGDON, New Hampshire – Sharon Crossman had not tasted fresh fruits or vegetables in a week. Since her husband had two heart attacks and stopped working, she has relied on disability checks and the free food provided by a food pantry.
But lately, the only fresh produce available at the Fall Mountain Foodshelf where she volunteers has been shriveled potatoes and sprouting onions.
Pantry director Mary Lou Huffling expects that to change soon, as she has begun asking local gardeners and farmers to grow extra rows of produce to donate.
“Almost everyone around here has a garden,” said Huffling, who also runs a program that delivers meals to the hungry in this rural part of southwestern New Hampshire. “If they would grow a row for the food program and the Friendly Meals program, it would help so much.”
At least 50 families have responded to Huffling’s request and she thinks about 100 will end up participating. In July, she expects to feed fresh vegetables to 100 to 130 families each week.
“People have been very excited about it,” Huffling said.
She has learned that her idea and even the name she chose for it, Grow a Row, are not new.
Read the rest of the story here: