Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

We're also in an unincorporated area - less red tape. I confess we're
looking for ways to network with more people who see the writing on the
wall, and mostly coming up empty. We attend local events with some
connection to gardening and such and try to strike up conversations, such
as the thing at the Gourd Society. Or of course the farmers markets where
we sell. We speak to strangers at thrift stores etc.   Maybe some more
indirect approach, through something related to self sufficiency or beating
high food prices, etc. Maybe we'll put up some notes on local bulletin
boards about wanting to haul off somebody's horse manure and see who we run
into. But then finding other growers around here is iffy since almost
nobody is growing anything. Yet everybody has room for it, literally, with
no zoning. 

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 1/10/2008 at 7:33 PM Liz wrote:

>At 11:10 AM 1/10/2008, you wrote:
>
>>Throughout history it seems hard times fall hardest on the poorest and
>most
>>vulnerable. Few would believe it but Los Angeles already has 80,000
>>homeless. You mention increasing your land's productivity. For many of us
>>who have a little land, that's more realistic than trying to get more
>land.
>>It keeps our land costs down and concentrates inputs where they'll bring
>>the best return, and that's my own strategy at this point. We are going
to
>>have to feed more than ourselves, and what's more do it at prices most
>>people can afford. That could be difficult.
>
>This means we have to restore our neighborhood communities where 
>possible, and not just in the inner cities. I live in a small 
>unofficial community of people with 1/2 to about 50 acres across a 
>small section of the VA/NC state line. As older people die and 
>newcomers build homes in the vicinity, the sense of cohesiveness is 
>growing fainter. I'm feeling more and more strongly that I need to 
>talk to a couple of the natives, one of whom is the county 
>agricultural agent, about how to help all of us cope with increasing 
>food and oil prices, and how we can stick together if catastrophe 
>strikes. The only thing I worry about is that nothing will come out 
>of it but a lot of arguing, and the general knowledge that I'm 
>prepared even if they aren't.
>
>Liz in SW VA
>http://life-as-a-spectator-sport.com
>
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