Sunday, May 11, 2008

Lee Valley Garden Tools

I was at a garden show in Stratford, Ontario a couple months ago and I signed up for the Lee Valley Garden Tools catalogue. My husband is a big fan of Lee Valley, and so I thought I would see what they have to offer in the way of gardening. I have received the catalogue, but I haven't tried any of their products. I am specifically interested in a couple of their products and I am wondering if anyone out there has any thoughts on them.

The "Upside-Down Planter" - used to extend the growing season of tomatoes (can be moved easily when there is a danger of frost) and requires no staking or weeding. The product description also includes that it keeps plants safe from earth-borne insects and can also be used for cucumbers and peppers. Wondering if this works as well as it seems that it theoretically should.

"Super Red Mulch" - when put on the soil under tomatoes, Lee Valley claims that it will increase yields by up to 20% over black mulch. It works by reflecting a certain spectrum of light back to the plants, stimulating rapid growth and development.

I am interested in many of Lee Valley's garden tools, but these were the most intriguing. Since I am at the beginning of my garden journey, I am trying to learn as much as I can before making gardening purchases. Looking forward to hearing any feedback.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Food crisis and urban food production

So, I am sure that most people have heard about the current world food crisis in the news. Many developing countries are struggling with food inflation and limiting their exports of staple foods such as wheat and rice. This is driving the prices up and resulting in panic and riots in many of these countries.

For me, this really drives home the cold, hard facts about global food production. I hope that it makes more people more aware of where their food comes from. It is sometimes astounding to me that a lot of people that I know prefer to not think about the fact that the chicken that they are eating was actually a living bird. Or that the banana that they are eating travels thousands of miles before it ends up in their hands. Our modern society has put us so out of touch with the world outside of the North American bubble. I think that the distance food travels has definitely been more prominent in the media, and it is for this reason that more people (in my experience) seem to be thinking more about "buying locally". I wonder how long it will take for these same people to start growing a garden.

Now, I don't think that having a garden is going to save the world, but I am comforted in knowing that some of the food that I am eating is actually produced by myself. Lately, I have been coming across a few stories of individuals and communities coming together to find alternatives to the current food system. I find this very encouraging and I enjoy reading these stories. Change begins with individuals.