... it's 7:30 am, you're squatted under an umbrella wearing office clothes and duck boots, in a torrential downpour, attempting to hand pollinate the single (tattered) female zucchini flower. Then you briefly consider leaving the umbrella there for the squash. I'm skeptical that it will work because that poor flower was torn to shreds, and it was still pouring. Really, what possessed her to open up today of all days?
Which brings me to my point. Eating locally and growing your own food can put you in a very precarious position. What if the weather doesn't cooperate? First we had a major killing frost on May 18th. This didn't affect my gardening, but it sure affected our local fruit crops, the vineyards in particular. Then, we had the second wettest June on record, and are nearing the end of the coolest July on record.
A recent study showed that eating locally will have little affect on global warming. But, I can guarantee that global warming will have a big effect on eating locally. That study actually suggests we should eat less beef, because cow manure releases too much methane. Heck, apparently even a cow burp is a methane risk. The Argentinians actually strapped gas bags on the backs of cows to measure how much methane a cow releases before the manure starts to compost. Anyone else afraid this poor cow is going to float away?!?
Many gardeners are losing their gardens to too much rain, too cool temps, hail storms and the like. And if it isn't the weather, then it's the darn bugs. It makes you wonder how our ancestors managed to survive at all doesn't it?
LOL, can you imagine if Grey chanced upon a cow with a floating fart bag attached to him? What a sight that would be- almost better than the cow blimp. It's been an interesting year here too- 9 inches behind in rainfall, and rather cool for July, but it's been perfect for horsing around!
ReplyDelete