I agree totally with that last statement FB, unfortunately too many people think it is a right to have those things and not something you should have to earn!! We are by no means poor, we both have good jobs (at the moment) but because we are looking at huge changes with my OH, this will affect finances and we are now on a very strict budget, we have cut wine and treats right back......tonight was the first bottle of wine all week and OH has reduced the Sky package to save money. Unfortunately not everyone thinks like that. I even got questioned about buying a bag of seed compost and grit, I had to explain that a friend from GW sent me sees that I had to sow
Organic food ventures seem to be struggling. Our local organic farm has closed. There is less and less available in my local supermarkets, and box schemes pop up and fail almost immediately. At a large farm shop in Devon, which i visited last week there were almost no organic fruit and vegetables for sale, despite this being an obvious candidate, The fruit and vegetables manager told me that organics have such a short shelf life they preferred to sell "normal" produce. Organics lose them money.
Please someone, explain to me how organic produce promotes the welfare of mankind. Why is demand falling?
Demand is falling because people are short of money and choose cheaper alternatives. Growing your own can save money. Pesticides are expensive and many people prefer not to use them. With oil becoming more expensive, the mileage that food travels is also important. Should I eat organic beans grown in my own garden, or imported non organic snap peas flown in from Kenya? Surely home production is better? My bees would also prefer me not to use pesticide sprays. No bees equals no beans or peas.
But producing enough food for the world's billions will require pesticides, fertilisers and the mass production of food, where it makes sense to do so, requiring long distance transportation. Micro production for yourself ( I do it) is not the issue, or the solution. If we all were allocated enough land to be self sufficient on organic lines, we would need several planets.
If the people of Africa could grow food for their own consumption, rather than intensive flowers and vegetables to be exported to Europe to pay for their countries' trade deficit, acquired by them buying weapons that the west tells them they need in order to maintain the status quo which was imposed on them in colonial times, they would be more able to feed themselves.
Whoops! Good morning folks Another beautiful morning here in Norfolk!
It looks as if we had hoglets in the garden last night - much smaller 'evidence' on the terrace
The magpies were so cheeky first thing this morning, they stood at the open door and shouted at me until I tipped out the bits and pieces the hedgehogs hadn't eaten - that's their treat every morning.
Now there's some very angry blackbirds in next door's garden, shouting the odds - probably at next door's cat!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Leaving history and politics aside, my point is that the world's population is of a certain size , is growing, with rising expectations, and needs feeding. We have to find ways of growing more food, more efficiently, distributed more efficiently.....and that organic food production has lower yields, and therefore does not offer any answers to this major problem.
Agreed, but I think I will go outside and do a bit of weeding instead. Thanks Dove for the exit route. As they say never talk about religion, politics and sex with good friends.
Morning Dove, Morning Woody (is it ok to call you that?) Yes, Dove, having read all that I was about to launch in with my pennythworth. But as you say, for another time/ thread! Passionate topic!
Posts
I agree totally with that last statement FB, unfortunately too many people think it is a right to have those things and not something you should have to earn!! We are by no means poor, we both have good jobs (at the moment) but because we are looking at huge changes with my OH, this will affect finances and we are now on a very strict budget, we have cut wine and treats right back......tonight was the first bottle of wine all week and OH has reduced the Sky package to save money. Unfortunately not everyone thinks like that. I even got questioned about buying a bag of seed compost and grit, I had to explain that a friend from GW sent me sees that I had to sow
Organic food ventures seem to be struggling. Our local organic farm has closed. There is less and less available in my local supermarkets, and box schemes pop up and fail almost immediately. At a large farm shop in Devon, which i visited last week there were almost no organic fruit and vegetables for sale, despite this being an obvious candidate, The fruit and vegetables manager told me that organics have such a short shelf life they preferred to sell "normal" produce. Organics lose them money.
Please someone, explain to me how organic produce promotes the welfare of mankind. Why is demand falling?
Demand is falling because people are short of money and choose cheaper alternatives. Growing your own can save money. Pesticides are expensive and many people prefer not to use them. With oil becoming more expensive, the mileage that food travels is also important. Should I eat organic beans grown in my own garden, or imported non organic snap peas flown in from Kenya? Surely home production is better? My bees would also prefer me not to use pesticide sprays. No bees equals no beans or peas.
But producing enough food for the world's billions will require pesticides, fertilisers and the mass production of food, where it makes sense to do so, requiring long distance transportation. Micro production for yourself ( I do it) is not the issue, or the solution. If we all were allocated enough land to be self sufficient on organic lines, we would need several planets.
If the people of Africa could grow food for their own consumption, rather than intensive flowers and vegetables to be exported to Europe to pay for their countries' trade deficit, acquired by them buying weapons that the west tells them they need in order to maintain the status quo which was imposed on them in colonial times, they would be more able to feed themselves.
Whoops! Good morning folks
Another beautiful morning here in Norfolk!
It looks as if we had hoglets in the garden last night - much smaller 'evidence' on the terrace
The magpies were so cheeky first thing this morning, they stood at the open door and shouted at me until I tipped out the bits and pieces the hedgehogs hadn't eaten - that's their treat every morning.
Now there's some very angry blackbirds in next door's garden, shouting the odds - probably at next door's cat!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Leaving history and politics aside, my point is that the world's population is of a certain size , is growing, with rising expectations, and needs feeding. We have to find ways of growing more food, more efficiently, distributed more efficiently.....and that organic food production has lower yields, and therefore does not offer any answers to this major problem.
I think the organic -v- non organic question probably deserves a thread of it's own
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Agreed, but I think I will go outside and do a bit of weeding instead. Thanks Dove for the exit route. As they say never talk about religion, politics and sex with good friends.
Good morning Woody
, if you'd like to get the hoe out on my front border you're very welcome 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Morning Dove, Morning Woody (is it ok to call you that?) Yes, Dove, having read all that I was about to launch in with my pennythworth. But as you say, for another time/ thread! Passionate topic!