The Garden Guide

Do You Really Know What a Locavore Is?

The first time I saw someone described as a Locavore while reading a blog post, I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about.  I am perpetually curious about pretty much any and all things, and what usually starts as reading one blogger's post ends up to be this chain of events linking me from one blog to the next.  Blog-hopping? 

So, the search was on to learn what a Locavore really is beyond what can be gleaned from the two parts of the actual word itself.  What my search revealed first was that apparently I was behind the times, because it appears that locavore was coined by four ladies in the San Francisco area way back in '05.
 

They had issued a challenge to themselves and everyone in their area to eat local for 1 month.  Hence the term locavore....someone who determines what area they consider local and try to stay within those bounds for as much food as possible. The reasons behind the concept are many and these ladies succinctly summed it up in part of the intro of their blog at Locavores.com as "important politically, environmentally, economically and healthfully".  Its no wonder the idea has spread to other areas over time and the concept seems to be growing in popularity.

The Locavore concept actually makes complete sense, but is so foreign to the instant gratification way of life that has become THE way of life for most.  I prefer to live my life my way and only my way and this looks suspiciously like a bandwagon, but it honestly got my attention. 

Curiouser and curiouser....I continued on my quest for answers and stumbled across an interesting article on the PBS website titled "10 Steps to Becoming a Locavore".  Definitely food for thought! 

I grow quite a bit of vegetables for our family and friends, buy free-range eggs, and support the local farmers market when I need too.  However, a quick search at LocalHarvest for local markets made me realize that what I've been doing is barely a drop in the bucket as far as supporting local producers.  There is a whole world of local farms right under my nose producing beef, poultry, pork as well as vegetables, wool, cheese, milk...right down to Texas grown olives!  How cool is that!

Newsy Tuesday - Eat Local October Challenge, Eat Local Week 2008, Eat Local Day by Day

Well, believe it or not, October is almost over.  In case you weren't aware, October was the month designated for the 2008 Eat Local Challenge.  Regardless of which month it is and regardless of whether you participated or not, the website is very interesting and has some thought provoking articles as to why eat local.

The first time I heard about the Eat Local Challenge, my first thought was "umm..define local" so I can figure out what I'll have to do without.  I have since decided that's not what its really all about and is definitely the wrong attitude to have.  You can take the hardcore approach and only eat what is produced "locally", but my take is more one of be conscious of what is in season in your area and plan your meals accordingly.

As far as what is considered "local", I would think that 100 miles or so is probably reasonable.  But that's easy for me to say, because we are lucky enough to be in an area that has long growing seasons and a very diverse amount of crops grown within a relatively small radius...not to mention cattle ranches, dairies and seafood from the coast.

According to edibleAustin, an Eat Local Week 2008 is set for December 6 - 13th here in Austin.  I know that sounds like a long way away, but November is literally just around the corner.  If your not familiar with edibleAustin, their website "promotes the abundance of local foods, season by season".  It sounds like Eat Local Week is their "winter fundraiser event" that helps support Urban Roots, which looks like a very unique youth development program, that in turn donates "a portion of their harvest to local hunger relief programs". 

The Eat Local Week 2008 schedule looks like a lot of fun!  I'm curious as to what a "20-carrot salute" is and think the "Tipsy Texan Drink Local Cocktail Contest" sounds like a ball!

As far as participating in any Eat Local Challenge, I haven't actually registered as a participant and probably won't.  Which is a shame because its got to be an "eye-opening experience".  I definitely do support the Eat Local Challenge...just more in my own way.  I am trying to grow a more diversified garden with more seasons of produce.  I can't get more local that out behind the house!   Plus, we are trying to be more supportive of our local farmer's market in Bee Cave. 

And overall, I think that if people just become more aware of the reasons behind the Eat Local Challenge and try to keep those reasons in mind as part of day to day life, then the "Challenge" is a success.  So, that's how I'm taking the Challenge....day by day.

Newsy Tuesday - Produce Pesticide Testing "Abruptly Halted"

According to an article in the Chicago Tribune , "The Bush administration has abruptly halted a government program that tests the levels of pesticides in fruits, vegetables and field crops"

"Since 1990, the program has included tests on about 120 different kinds of fruits, vegetables and field crops..."

The article goes on to say that this data was relied upon (among others) by the EPA "to help set acceptable levels of pesticides in food" and the Integrated Pest Management Center at the University of Illinois who works "with farmers to limit pesticide use to problem areas in their fields".

It was ended because the "8-million-a-year program" was deemed "too expensive".

Setting the food safety issues aside, what amazes me most about all of this is that the cost of the program seems staggeringly high for the small amount of produce tested.  I don't know anything about the testing itself, but to me "120" different kinds of produce seems relatively small when we're talking about 140 million dollars and nearly two decades! 

It sounds like the program should've been overhauled instead of scrapped, but in the end it is just one more reason why you should just grow your own produce.

Newsy Tuesday - Dial Before U Dig!

As an excavation contractor, we do what is commonly called a "One Call" prior to digging on any job.  I call the Texas One Call System directly at 1-800-245-4545 on a pretty regular basis to have underground utilities marked prior to digging.

What I didn't know was that effective in May 2007, a new nationwide toll free number "811" was put into effect to make it easier for contractors and homeowners to reach their local One Call center by being routed there via one easy number to remember - "811".  (For more information go to www.call811.com).

I learned what One Call was the hard way!  Way back when...long before hubby and excavation company...I decided to spruce up the yard of the house I was living in.  I went to the nursery, bought a couple of shrubs and a dwarf tree, started digging and promptly severed my telephone and cable lines.  What a headache that was!

So lets face it! Gardeners and other homeowners who like "do-it-yourself" projects are going to dig! There is just no two ways about it!  Planting a tree or shrub, putting in a water feature, building a deck all require digging deeply enough to damage underground utilities.   

And at what risk?  According to the Common Ground Alliance there are approximately 275,000 damages to underground utilities each year caused by not calling to get underground lines located.  The math on that turns into about 750 broken lines every day!

The whole process is very simple and free!  Just call and let them know the basic details of your project...they'll walk you through it.  Don't worry that your going to have markings all over your yard or locators tromping through your flower beds; they just mark the area you are already planning on tearing up anyway.

So go ahead and give them a call two or three days before your next digging project.  It is far easier and safer to get your underground utility lines marked ahead of time than to just go ahead and dig and hope for the best.

Newsy Tuesday - "YARD WARS"!!!

Have you ever noticed when driving through some neighborhoods that all of the yards look pretty much the same?  You know what I mean...a couple of young trees, a square of Bermuda, a few heavily pruned shrubs and maybe a rosebush by the mailbox.  Yawn!  Fortunately that trend is changing!  Cheers for character and uniqueness!

Well, according to an article in the Orange County Register entitled "Yard wars: Neighbors nettled by nature gone wild", Joel Robinson is a neighbor in one such subdivision who strayed from the norm.  (and it isn't working out too well for him!)

During his interview with the Orange County Register, Robinson, "a naturalist", told reporter Pat Brennan that the neighbors got upset when he "decided to try for certification of his property as genuine backyard habitat".

Robinson questioned his neighbors reactions and defended his position when he told Brennan "I've cut fossil fuels almost to zero, created habitat for native plants and animals - and I'm doing something wrong?"  When Brennan interviewed neighbors, one countered with "We pull weeds, and he's growing them".  Another neighbor said that "it just does not conform to the usual neighborhood landscaping".  See what I mean?

Reading on it becomes apparent that the whole situation has gotten way out of hand!  It had escalated to where Robinson "received anonymous, threatening notes and even had some of his plants killed with herbicide".  And then Robinson "began receiving notices from the city code enforcement officials".

Brennan did a follow-up in "Yard wars, Part 2: Naturalist threatened with jail or fine" , where the title of the article pretty much sums it up.  However, further into the article it sounds like the city is backing off a little, as the city attorney "said he would likely visit Robinson's house with a plant expert to determine whether the plants are really native".  (I laughed out loud at that one!  And then what?  The neighbors are suddenly going to like Robinson's yard because an expert deemed the plants native?)

I visited the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) website to see what this backyard certification was all about.  (WOW!  Remember Ranger Rick?)  As for the actual "Habitat Certification Application", I was disappointed!  Simply check off the boxes that apply to your yard and send in your $15 bucks.  Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see where any proof was required whatsoever.

Though I can imagine how excited Robinson was about his new goal after reading the NWF website. The site lists several reasons why you should "create a NWF Wildlife Habitat" like "Its fun!", it adds "Curb appeal!" and it is good for your "Community!"  I wonder if Robinson read the part about "how to avoid conflict with your neighbors"?  Or more importantly the part that advises "certification seekers" to research among other things "local weed ordinances".

I'm glad that Robinson did set his mind to do a good thing by becoming certified by NWF.   I have to admit that when I first read the "Yard Wars" articles I was feeling pretty sorry for this guy that is being ostracized by his neighbors for doing what is a really good thing.  However, I also got the feeling that he's using his NWF certification to justify his position and, after researching the certification, I think he went a little overboard. 

Not to mention the fact that I've seen lots of yards planted with native plants that are absolutely beautiful.  Native or not, habitat or not, it should still look like a place you want to stroll through, not a place where once you get in there you wish you'd worn jeans and boots instead of shorts and sandals!

So, overall he achieved his "goals", but at what expense?  He told Brennan that things are "so tense he is thinking of moving away".  Whats up with that?  He would rather move than try to make his yard a little more acceptable?  Why, so whoever buys his home can rip out all his hard work?  Then everything he, his family and his neighbors went through will all be for naught!

So maybe they should all take a moment to remember the old saying "compromise is a two way street"!

Newsy Tuesday - The Victory Garden Movement

The passage of time has proven again and again that the world works in rounds.  Popular today, gone tomorrow only to be brought back again at a later date by a different generation.  Sometimes this is a good thing and, if you've ever seen yourself in old pictures and wondered "What was I thinking?", sometimes a trend should just go away and stay away.

Lately I've been hearing more and more about the revival of the Victory Garden (and I think this is a good thing!).  Victory Gardens started in the WWI and WWII era as a matter of necessity.

Poster Image Courtesy of Northwestern University Library

A campaign that encouraged folks to plant gardens in an effort to reduce the strain on the public food supply brought on by the war and ensure that enough canned goods were available to be shipped to the troops.

 Poster Courtesy of Northwestern University Library

I think it was a genius idea since those who participated got to show their patriotism by helping out on the homefront, use fresh produce to stretch their rations and learn new skills like planting, growing, harvesting and preserving.

 Poster Image Courtesy of Northwestern University Library

Overall, a staggeringly large number of families and communities joined in and pulled together to make the movement a huge success.

Interestingly enough, Victory Gardens never really went away.  I didn't know that PBS has a show called "The Victory Garden" that has been on the air for over 30 years or that one of the original public victory gardens called Fenway Victory Gardens is still going strong and, according to their site, they are "America's Oldest Victory Gardens, est. 1942".

Just this spring I personally have witnessed a growing interest in vegetable gardening where people who used to see our vegetable garden or our canned goods and ask "why" would we do that are more and more asking "how". They take greater interest and actually walk out into the garden and look at it instead of viewing it from a distance like it was a UFO.

These days I honestly don't see how anyone who watches the news can't help but get an uneasy feeling about the state of our economy.  Not to mention the rash of contaminated food products and recalls.  And with the price of fuel affecting the price of all consumer goods, it is hitting everyone in their pocketbooks!  And what about protecting the environment?  Do you know how far your food traveled to reach your grocery store? 

I don't know about you, but when I start taking all of that into consideration, I get the urge to be even more frugal and self-sufficient! So maybe the time is ripe for a revival of the old Victory Garden movement with a new purpose!

 

Introducing.....Newsy Tuesday

I think gardeners are all alike in that their garden is a place to "lose" themselves.   There is absolutely no place else they would rather be.

I know I get so completely caught up in what I'm doing in my garden that the real world ceases to exist for a time.

And, I'll admit that I would be perfectly content to "play in the dirt" pretty much all day everyday and not work or pay bills or shop or cook or clean or whatever mundane tasks make up a large part of my day.

But, the truth is, whether we like it or not, a lot goes on beyond our garden gates.  There are events and issues that gardeners should know about.

So, when I got the bright idea to try and keep an eye out for interesting tidbits to share..."Newsy Tuesday" was born.  (Kinda corny I know, but the best I could do on short notice!)

If you have anything interesting you would like for me to know about please email TheGardenGuide@yahoo.com ....It doesn't matter if it is something that made you laugh out loud or made you hoppin' mad or is an announcement or an achievement...its ALL news!