Backyard gardens become source of income

[Lucid]

Los Angeles, which has a growing number of people selling home-grown fruit and vegetables, is halting enforcement of an ordinance against the practice.

The Los Angeles City Council said it is suspending enforcement of a 1946 ordinance and weighing a new measure, the Food and Flowers Freedom Act, which would allow for the growing of "berries, flowers, fruits, greens, herbs, ornamental plants, mushrooms, nuts, seedlings or vegetables for use on-site or sale or distribution off-site," the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The measure comes as an increasing number of local residents and people across the United States are turning to their home gardens as a source of supplementary income.

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/05/...9591274465734/

[jackson64]

I can't believe that California even had a ban on this...how stupid

I love our little quaint community here in Southern Maryland...you can buy crabs, oysters and fish caught fresh that day right off the boats when they come in from the bay....you also can stop at a dozen produce stands or go to a "farmers market" ( about 20-30 tables of home-grown fruits and veggies) on your way home from the docks to get some produce to go with your fish for dinner....

If your lucky, the Amish may have a stand set up too with home-grown pies and breads...MMMMMmmmm

Of course I always have vegetables growing all summer long ( already have lotsa radishes and garlic, snow peas should be ready for picking this week)...it only makes sense...

I recommend to everyone to create a vegetable garden and buy a vacuum sealer to freeze them all winter..it not only is economical, it is also a wonderous blessing to relax, meditate on the Lord, and get away from TV and the internet in the evenings......Between the exercise, the healthy food and the stress reduction..it will probably add 10 healthy years to your life......

[logosone]

Growing your own food? Don't worry somebody? thought of that too!
I don't know where H.R. 875 (Food Safety Modernization Act) introduced
last year is currently, but it's broad enough as written to nip our little gardens
in the bud, pun intended.

http://www.cspinet.org/foodsafety/foodbills.html

[Wally]

Maybe that is the same act that is designed to cripple family farms. I know PA has something in the works - maybe passed that will remove family members from operating farm machines, prohibit uncertified produce sales, and some other stupid nonsense.

Yes ther are safety issues, but I remember farm kids in highschool who were better drivers than some of the adults. There is also a seed copyright that prohibits farmers from saving any harvested seed to plant the following year. Perhaps someone can elaborate on these items. I have to do some digging as I'm not positive if these are pending acts or ones that have already passed.

[logosone]

Control the food, you control the people.

I think that was one of Kissinger's high minded utterances.

[friharbor]

Maybe that is the same act that is designed to cripple family farms. I know PA has something in the works - maybe passed that will remove family members from operating farm machines, prohibit uncertified produce sales, and some other stupid nonsense.

Yes ther are safety issues, but I remember farm kids in highschool who were better drivers than some of the adults. There is also a seed copyright that prohibits farmers from saving any harvested seed to plant the following year. Perhaps someone can elaborate on these items. I have to do some digging as I'm not positive if these are pending acts or ones that have already passed.

That would be Monsanto seed, which has pretty much taken over the market. They are also genetically modified, for the most part. There are several good DVDs out there about this--The Future of Food, I believe, is one of them. I think it's VERY important to watch it, to see where the food we eat is headed. Believe me, it's scary. If you have Netflix, I think you can watch it right from your computer. If I remember correctly, Monsanto seed is "round-up proof". In other words, if a farmer sprays round-up to get rid of the weeds, and a plant remains, you know it is Monsanto. They also do not allow you to save seed to use the next year, which I believe has ruined many farmers either in Africa or India (can't remember, trying to pull up stuff from my past research here). It has prompted hubby and I to start our own gardening using organic seeds. My next goal is to learn how to save seed for next year. My aunt and uncle used to do it all the time.

HR 875, as someone stated before, can be interpreted so that it won't allow home gardens anymore. I watched a piece about this (I think it was on Glenn Beck). It will also prevent organic hobby farmers from selling at farmer's markets without all sorts of certification.

It's crazy what is happening to our food and the food system. If anyone wants more links or DVDs, please let me know, and I'll dig some of it up.

[caligal]

Yeah they are creating a food shortage on purpose, while at the same time the grocery stores are having less and less variety on purpose. They were hoping we wouldn't notice until it was too late.

[logosone]

That would be Monsanto seed, which has pretty much taken over the market. They are also genetically modified, for the most part. There are several good DVDs out there about this--The Future of Food, I believe, is one of them. I think it's VERY important to watch it, to see where the food we eat is headed. Believe me, it's scary. If you have Netflix, I think you can watch it right from your computer. If I remember correctly, Monsanto seed is "round-up proof". In other words, if a farmer sprays round-up to get rid of the weeds, and a plant remains, you know it is Monsanto. They also do not allow you to save seed to use the next year, which I believe has ruined many farmers either in Africa or India (can't remember, trying to pull up stuff from my past research here). It has prompted hubby and I to start our own gardening using organic seeds. My next goal is to learn how to save seed for next year. My aunt and uncle used to do it all the time.

HR 875, as someone stated before, can be interpreted so that it won't allow home gardens anymore. I watched a piece about this (I think it was on Glenn Beck). It will also prevent organic hobby farmers from selling at farmer's markets without all sorts of certification.

It's crazy what is happening to our food and the food system. If anyone wants more links or DVDs, please let me know, and I'll dig some of it up.

Never heard that about 'round-up proof', interesting!
My understanding is that Round-Up is nothing more than
'Agent Orange' in a retail friendly plastic container.

[CakeDecorator]

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/05/...9591274465734/

And possibly even in the future to feed themselves.... Everything is so expensive....

[HeLives]

Check out square foot gardening. Website by the same name. Mel Bartholomew created square foot gardening and used to have a PBS show teaching how to do it. He retired and then came out of retirement to teach All New Square Foot Gardening. It is a lot easier and well worth the money. Pictures at the website of other peoples gardens.

The concept is to have multiple four foot by four foot raised gardens--6 inches high of perfect dirt (1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 compost) to grow your garden in. You don't step on the dirt so it doesn't get packed down. Everything is within easy distance to reach, easy to weed and takes less water. You divide the garden into four by four 1 foot sections for a total of 16 sections. In each square foot you grow one thing. If it needs 12 inches you plant one of that plant. If it needs 6 inches you plant four in that square. You should make one 4 X 4 foot garden per person in your household. More if you want to share or sell it!

[Wally]

The Round-up resistant corn has been used here for a few years. I've personally seen the process:

Spray grass - turns yellow dies
Plant corn - no till needed (sometimes they spread liquid manure and till right after grass dies - then plant)
Spray more plus fertilizer

Corn rusts a little then grows over dying weeds

You get to see all the brand signs at the edge of fields NK, DeKalb, ....

One of these days I'm expecting to see a 3000 lb deformed woodchuck running off with a tractor in its mouth...

[elac]

Check out square foot gardening. Website by the same name. Mel Bartholomew created square foot gardening and used to have a PBS show teaching how to do it. He retired and then came out of retirement to teach All New Square Foot Gardening. It is a lot easier and well worth the money. Pictures at the website of other peoples gardens.

I second that! I have one section of garden out back to see how it works. It's wonderful! Not nearly as back breaking as the old style gardens and the produce coming out of it is beautiful! We're having green beans from my little square foot garden for supper tomorrow.

[RosettaLuv]

That sounds like a great idea. Our family has a large lemon tree in our backyard. Maybe I should suggest my mom to sell her fruits.