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.

Food and Peak Oil

So, one of the reasons I have taken such an interest in gardening is to be able to grow my own food. As a kid, I loved helping my mom in the garden, and I have missed that since leaving home, going to school and basically just getting busier with other things in my life. I have been doing a lot of research and I am starting to realize that modern life is causing me (and most people) to lose my connection with nature and the outdoors. We lead such "busy" lives, and it leaves us no time to even prepare food.

There is another reason why I want to grow my own food. The current "buy local food" trend has made me really think about this issue. In a recent article posted on kitchengarden.org, the author discusses the association between oil and food supply. While most people are coming to accept that the era of cheap oil is coming to an end, many do not fully grasp what impact this is going to have on the world's food supply. The North American food system is completely dependent on oil (farm machinery, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, food processing equipment and of course, transportation). As oil gets more expensive, logically, so will food.

So, with these issues in mind, I am planning on taking the "buy local" lifestyle even further....buy eating food grown in my yard. I want to depend less on manufactured food, so I am also starting to bake my own bread. I have been asked if I will have enough time to do all of these things. Well, I believe we make time for things that are important to us. Also, I sometimes think about how fast society has changed and about our ancestors (not even that long ago) didn't have the luxury of running to a supermarket for every last little thing. We may think we're too busy, but are we really?