Weather Report: Signs of the Times, “Got Garden?” Part 2 — Sources & Methods

SIGNS OF THE TIMES: We are without doubt in a recession/depression and all of the indications are that it’s growing with no clear end in sight. The prognosticating optimists have so far proved themselves consistently wrong while the pessimists have enjoyed confirmation at almost every turn.

Even using a highly modified formula from that of the early 1980’s, a time period often referred to when comparing current unemployment levels to past recessions, we now have at least three states experiencing double-digit levels of unemployment with much higher levels of unemployment promised for the nation as a whole.

The U.S. economy as a whole saw shrinkage at a rate of 6.2% annually last quarter, nearly twice the predicted level.

Current/subsequent events would seem to confirm and expand on our 2/18/09 observations regarding a context for the immediate beginning/expanding of your home garden.

“GOT GARDEN?” PART 2—SOURCES & METHODS : Please forgive us for assuming that not all of our readers are skilled gardeners and going directly to a proven, reliable source for gardening information and tools:

LEHMAN’S NON-ELECTRIC CATALOG. It’s quickest access is here on our web site and yes, we do receive a small piece of any business you might choose to do with them via our site and thank you in advance. We’ve done business with these fine folks for a good number of years and recommend them to you without reservation.

Find thousands of unique products for a simple lifestyle from Lehmans.com. Click here.

The first “tools” we’re going to recommend that you acquire are two books:

1. John Jevons’ How to Grow More Vegetables

2. Mel Bartholomew’s All New Square Foot Gardening

These two books will provide you with the cornerstone for a productive and sustainable home vegetable garden (we have them both and still refer to them often). They both employ organic methods and emphasize large garden production in smaller spaces and ideas from both provide for the most garden production within limited areas.

A second set of “tools” involve two inexpensive adjuncts to the first: Country Living Bulletin #A104–Starting Seeds Indoors and Country Living Bulletin# A151–Container Gardening.

These two bulletins can help flesh out two special niches and needs for the home gardener.

SEEDS: John Jeavons’ book How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits
has about five pages of seed sources (pp 225-230) listed in the Bibliography and Resources Section and here are two (both listed) we recommend and use:

The above is a beginning. While there may be time later on to develop many other necessary skills, there is no more time to begin to develop the skills necessary for sustainable food production within the home vegetable garden.

Until next week, keep your eyes on the horizon as the weathers changing fast.