You're right there Gary, there is also the cost of heating the greenhouses in Northern Europe if you want an early crop. It's a dilemma for customers though as with other products. Do you buy British with lower flower miles or help developing countries with their export potential? Jordan grows roses for sale in Europe. I like to use flowers for the garden in the house in the summer.
And another reason may be that the export of flowers to the West provides foreign revenue to buy imported goods with, rather than growing crops to feed the Kenyan people
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
...Do you buy British with lower flower miles or help developing countries with their export potential? ...
Personally, I have a very rational and unsentimental view about sourcing produce.
From the point of view of helping the entire world, it is best if every country is able to do whatever it can, however little that is. So if some country is able to grow something, but can't do anything else, then they should be encouraged to do that, even if we could do it ourselves. We should be devoting our efforts to improving the sorts of things that we do best.
Many arguments about food miles are quite spurious. You burn more petrol driving to the supermarket than is used to transport the food you buy half-way round the world.
When you buy an apple in the shops, the cost of transportation is part of the price. You can buy apples grown in New Zealand for the same price as home grown. I just buy the cheapest. Just as New Zealand can send its apples to us, our growers should be exporting to New Zealand, during the months when apples are out of season there.
Your right there Penninepetal, total off track lol.
Today the weather went from mid 30's to a massive Hail storm that lasted about 30 mins, so you can imagine how this effects the plants. Poppies are in abundance especially in helmand and they grow very well, just not the best thing to grow on a NATO base lol. think I need to get some Camel poo to help everything along.
Perhaps we need to get Gardener's World on this and get a team out there to help you! They've helped army wives in the UK, perhaps they could go further afield.
I have been to the Garden In Lashkar Gah in 2007 when I was working there, it had just been built and was a good escape for 10 to 15 mins for the troops to take your mind of a not so nice day.
Morning Budgieo. I've no concept of distance or travelling time but my idea was that maybe you could get in touch with the other people and that they could give you some help and ideas. Good luck with your project.
Posts
And another reason may be that the export of flowers to the West provides foreign revenue to buy imported goods with, rather than growing crops to feed the Kenyan people
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Budgeio, you can see how our conversations tend to meander from the original post. I love that.
Personally, I have a very rational and unsentimental view about sourcing produce.
From the point of view of helping the entire world, it is best if every country is able to do whatever it can, however little that is. So if some country is able to grow something, but can't do anything else, then they should be encouraged to do that, even if we could do it ourselves. We should be devoting our efforts to improving the sorts of things that we do best.
Many arguments about food miles are quite spurious. You burn more petrol driving to the supermarket than is used to transport the food you buy half-way round the world.
When you buy an apple in the shops, the cost of transportation is part of the price. You can buy apples grown in New Zealand for the same price as home grown. I just buy the cheapest. Just as New Zealand can send its apples to us, our growers should be exporting to New Zealand, during the months when apples are out of season there.
Your right there Penninepetal, total off track lol.
Today the weather went from mid 30's to a massive Hail storm that lasted about 30 mins, so you can imagine how this effects the plants. Poppies are in abundance especially in helmand and they grow very well, just not the best thing to grow on a NATO base lol. think I need to get some Camel poo to help everything along.
Hi Budgieo. I've found a link that may help. Apparently there are some gardening projects already underway in Afghanistan. Hope this link helps.
http://defiantgardens.com/category/afghanistan/
Jean.
Jean,
I have been to the Garden In Lashkar Gah in 2007 when I was working there, it had just been built and was a good escape for 10 to 15 mins for the troops to take your mind of a not so nice day.
Morning Budgieo. I've no concept of distance or travelling time but my idea was that maybe you could get in touch with the other people and that they could give you some help and ideas. Good luck with your project.
Jean.