growing - Forum - The Frugivore Diet

'The Need To Grow ', new film free! Bio-char and other cutting edge growing solutions

2019-10-12T18:19:31.000Z

https://grow.foodrevolution.org/screening/

The United Nations estimates that at the rate we are depleting our farmland, we have fewer than 60 years of soil left on Earth.

Can we feed the world without destroying the planet?

The answer depends on what we do now!

The good news is, there ARE solutions. The Need To GROW takes you inside the hearts and innovations of three very different leaders - an 8-year-old girl challenges the ethics of a beloved organization - a renegade farmer struggles to keep his land as he revolutionizes resource-efficient agriculture - and an accomplished visionary inventor faces catastrophe in the midst of developing a game-changing technology.

Narrated by Rosario Dawson (Marvel’s The Defenders, The Lego Batman Movie), The Need To GROW delivers an epic story of solutions and the struggles to implement them. It will make you laugh, make you cry, give you chills, and inspire you to participate in the restoration of the Earth.

Any Preppers/Survivalists in our HCLF Raw Vegan Lifestyle??

2013-10-24T18:02:03.000Z

Just curious if anyone is doing any "prepping" High Carb Low Fat Raw Vegan style? Here in America there is so much talk about economic collapse that seems pretty likely. Many people are talking about what to do when the SHTF. We are working on being more self sustainable anyway, but wondered if anyone has Raw Vegan Preps they can share. Do you just start canning fruit and veggies or dehydrating them? I know it's not optimal, but in times of disaster or no access to fresh, raw vegan food what do you do? Root cellars full of potatoes maybe? Most preppers stock up on MREs or canned meats and highly processed packaged food. I'd like to find land where we can build a greenhouse and grow food year round, but not a lot of fruit will grow in my climate. I guess I need to learn how to can fruits and vegetables and maybe marinara sauce. Anybody doing this? Any other sustainable ideas for food storage?

Go Fruit the World!

2013-01-09T05:36:25.000Z

How nice it would be if the world was one big fruit forest... Lets all put our heads together to think of ideas and initiate some action!

I'm lucky that around my city there are quite a lot of wild mango trees that I can forage from in season, but I think if I started going around planting more and different varieties of trees here and there they would just be ripped out by council workers... So I thought maybe it would be a possibility, for example, to approach local/national environmental conservation groups (eg. Landcare Australia). If we could convince some big organisations to plant fruit bearing natives in some places that would be a start. Has anyone tried this before? Or planted trees around their community?

To inspire the community to plant trees in their own back yards is another big one. There should be community 'city farms' in every city where people can go to learn about permaculture and how they can grow their own food. Does anyone have a program like this in their city?

What are your ideas? How can we can spread our fruity love all over the world?

What is your favorite John Kohler video?

2012-11-28T17:04:32.000Z

John Kohler is a hard person not to like, in fact he appears to be one of the most likable people on youtube! I want to share some John Kohler videos with friends to get them into growing their own fruits and veggies. So my question is "what is your favorite John Kohler video?" Join me in spreading the love of growing your own plant foods.

Thanks,

You're pal,

Tyler

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Growing Medjool Palm

2012-04-26T03:04:47.000Z

Hi Everyone!

I absolutely love medjools which has inspired me to plant a palm but was hoping for some help from other's who may be more knowledgeable.

Firstly I was wondering whether I should try to buy a suckling which I think I may have to order and will cost a lot of money, or would it be better to grow one from a seed. I heard the planting from a seed means that it is not very likely it will actually grow to be a medjool palm as it could be any variety of palm which it may have been pollinated by. What if all the palms in the area are from other delicious varieties. Is it worth the risk of planting a germinated seed and play the waiting game..which sounds kind of exciting in a way..

I just don't know what to do. Any advice would be great!

Thank you :)

In New Food Culture, a Young Generation of Farmers Emerges

2011-03-08T05:56:49.000Z

Never mind that they might be producing some items we don't personally consume; anytime our young generation takes interest in producing food for themselves and others, I see it as hugely positive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/06farmers.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage

CORVALLIS, Ore. — For years, Tyler Jones, a livestock farmer here, avoided telling his grandfather how disillusioned he had become with industrial farming.

After all, his grandfather had worked closely with Earl L. Butz, the former federal secretary of agriculture who was known for saying, “Get big or get out.”

But several weeks before his grandfather died, Mr. Jones broached the subject. His grandfather surprised him. “You have to fix what Earl and I messed up,” Mr. Jones said his grandfather told him.

Now, Mr. Jones, 30, and his wife, Alicia, 27, are among an emerging group of people in their 20s and 30s who have chosen farming as a career. Many shun industrial, mechanized farming and list punk rock, Karl Marx and the food journalist Michael Pollan as their influences. The Joneses say they and their peers are succeeding because of Oregon’s farmer-foodie culture, which demands grass-fed and pasture-raised meats.

“People want to connect more than they can at their grocery store,” Ms. Jones said. “We had a couple who came down from Portland and asked if they could collect their own eggs. We said, ‘O.K., sure.’ They want to trust their producer, because there’s so little trust in food these days.”

Garry Stephenson, coordinator of the Small Farms Program at Oregon State University, said he had not seen so much interest among young people in decades. “It’s kind of exciting,” Mr. Stephenson said. “They’re young, they’re energetic and idealist, and they’re willing to make the sacrifices.”

Though the number of young farmers is increasing, the average age of farmers nationwide continues to creep toward 60, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. That census, administered by the Department of Agriculture, found that farmers over 55 own more than half of the country’s farmland.

In response, the 2008 Farm Bill included a program for new farmers and ranchers. Last year, the department distributed $18 million to educate young growers across the country.

Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, said he hoped some beginning farmers would graduate to midsize and large farms as older farmers retired. “I think there needs to be more work in this area,” he said. “It’s great to invest $18 million to reach out to several thousand to get them interested, but the need here is pretty significant. We need to be even more creative than we’ve been to create strategies so that young people can access operations of all sizes.”

The problem, the young farmers say, is access to land and money to buy equipment. Many new to farming also struggle with the basics.

In Eugene, Ore., Kasey White and Jeff Broadie of Lonesome Whistle Farm are finishing their third season of cultivating heirloom beans with names like Calypso, Jacob’s Cattle and Dutch Ballet.

They have been lauded — and even consulted — by older farmers nearby for figuring out how to grow beans in a valley dominated by grass seed farmers.

But finding mentors has been difficult. There is a knowledge gap that has been referred to as “the lost generation” — people their parents’ age may farm but do not know how to grow food. The grandparent generation is no longer around to teach them.

So Ms. White and Mr. Broadie turned to YouTube for farming tips. They scoured the antiques section of Craigslist for small-scale farming equipment.

“When we started, we didn’t even know what we needed,” said Ms. White, 35. “We found out that a tractor built in the 1950s would drive over our beds and weed them.”

She said that they farmed because they felt like part of a broader movement, but that the farmer’s life was not always romantic. Last year, their garlic crop rotted in the ground. Mr. Broadie, 36, is unable to repay his student loans. They do not have health insurance, or know when they will be able to afford to buy land.

On a recent Saturday, Ms. White and Mr. Broadie moved to a farm owned by a couple that wants to support local agriculture. They hope it is their last stop.

That evening in Corvallis, the Joneses prepared for a party at Mary’s River Grange Hall with friends.

Among them, Jenni and Scott Timms, both 28, had quit their engineering jobs in Houston the month before. They would like to own their own farm someday.

“We see people like Tyler and Alicia doing it, and we thought, ‘If they can do it, so can we,’ ” Mr. Timms said.

The Timmses had arrived at the Joneses’ 106-acre farm the day before and were staying in a run-down Victorian house on the property. As they waited for their hosts, they sipped a microbrew in a kitchen overlooking wooded farmland. They said they were drawn by the state’s beauty and its 120 farmers’ markets.

And it seemed that other beginning farmers in Oregon shared their values. At the Grange hall later that evening, the gravel lot was lined with Subarus with bumper stickers that read “Buy locally,” “Who’s Your Farmer?” and “Let’s Get Dirty.” One farmer arrived by bicycle.

Inside, women in woolen sweaters and hats danced to the music of a bluegrass band. There was no formal speech, just the Grange master’s yell that food was ready.

The Grange master, Hank Keogh, is a 26-year-old who, with his multiple piercings and severe sideburns, looks more indie rock star than seed farmer. Mr. Keogh took over the Grange two years ago.

He increased membership by signing up dozens of young farmers and others in the region. He had the floorboards refinished, introduced weekly yoga classes and reduced the average age of Grange members to 35 from 65.

The young farmers crowded around a table brimming with food they had produced — delicata squash, beet salad, potato leek soup and sparkling mead. On a separate table were two pony kegs of India pale ale.

It was the first time the Joneses had been to the Grange, and Ms. Jones said they would probably join. She had already told the mead makers that she would connect them with Portland restaurants that wanted local honey.

“Literally, four years ago, this was not happening,” Ms. Jones said, gesturing to the 30 farmers who congregated at the hall. “Now, everywhere you turn, someone’s a farmer.”

The Year of Lettuce - Don't Miss Out

2010-06-10T22:16:54.000Z

In the years that I've been growing lettuce, I don't think I've ever seen a crop as beautiful as the one I'm now harvesting.

At least in New England, but likely through much of the U.S., this is a banner year for leafy greens - big, beautiful, sweet leaves that don't even require dressing to eat.

A perfect storm of just the right amount of sun, just the right amount of rain, and grazing animals with alternative food supplies are the likely contributors. It's a nice treat after losing 3/4ths of my tomatoes to late blight last year and having many of my greens destroyed by deer, slugs and other pests.

I've been pulling the equivalent (I've been picking leaves and allowing the heads to regrow) of about three heads of lettuce a night out of my garden, and more just keeps coming.

With this delicious bounty in mind, I've been thinking about what a shame it is that so many raw foodists don't have big gardens to save money and enjoy organic, nutrient-rich greens.

Whether you can find a spot for a garden or raised bed, you have a patio of balcony to grow on, or if you're stuck with what you can do inside, lettuce is really easy to grow.

If you're interested in giving it a shot, I've put together an article on lettuce growing that I hope helps you get started.

I find a lot of people don't really know much about the different types of lettuce there are beyond romaine and iceberg, so I've also put another together about the six cultivar categories the hundreds of available lettuce varieties fall into.

Finally, in this video I show you a small part of my lettuce garden and talk about how I grow in various ways.

Hope you enjoy.

Balcony Garden :P in midwest?

2010-05-28T05:20:37.000Z

Im thinking of growing some tomatoes, basil, and cilantro on my balcony since I live in a TownHouse. I have never gardened before and am really excited to start, but im a little lost.

Has anyone had success with a balcony garden?

Any tips?

Thanks!

Growing Near Wetlands/Wet Soil

2010-05-03T23:14:27.000Z

Keep in mind when reading that I'm a complete gardening newbie, so ANY ideas you can offer would be awesome. Also: I'm in Wisconsin (grow zone 5).

Behind a woodsy area in my backyard is a clearing, one which borders a sort of slight marshy/wetland area. It has really moist soil, and doesn't seem to be part of the wetland itself. The soil always looks really rich and black [and worms seem to love it]. Also, a year ago, some potting soil that used to contain herbs was dumped back there, and now there's wild basil and chives all over!

So, I was thinking this would be a perfect place to spread a bunch of seeds (or do something more deliberate, where required) around and see if anything takes. Here's what I was thinking so far:

I know raspberries tend to be prolific growers (almost weedlike), would these do well?

Could this wet soil be hospitable to melons?

Would any trees do well in such a soil/in such a zone?

Sugar snap peas?

Watercress/Other leafy greens?

So, what do you think? Worth it, or waste of money and time? If you think anything would take, what's the best method to ensure the best plant health?

Cacao / Coconut water as plant food?

2009-10-22T15:53:47.000Z

If cacao is one of the best and abundant sources of magnesium and coconut water has calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus... Couldn't we fertilise our plants with these foods? I'd be interested to hear your experiences with feeding and treating plants/soil with organic raw foods...Without composting.Honey, dates, pomegranite? kelp, dulce, avocado,Thoughts?

Fruit Groups

2009-06-10T21:02:48.000Z

I recently joined a Fruit Group in my area, The Queensland Sub-Tropical Fruit Club.Last night I went to my first meeting.Since living in Queensland, I have started to get to know a lot of local growers and small-scale farmers.Their knowledge of fruit and their love and care and appreciation for fruit inspires and heartens me.It is many of these fruit enthusiasts who keep the small heirloom varieties of fruit alive as the larger supermarkets strive to reduce our fruit choices to those that travel well or look pretty sitting on the shelves.These enthusiasts, on the other hand, grow fruit for its taste and beautiful diversity.So last night I attended a meeting where the fruit enthusiasts gather.It was great, firstly a very interesting talk about worm farms, then a raffle where all the prizes were baby fruit trees—my idea of a raffle!At the end of the evening, 'supper' where the food was a wonderful banquet of local fruit brought in by the members.Now these folk are not raw vegans, vegans, or even vegetarians, but their love and knowledge is amazing.Where else could I have an evening out with a beautiful fruit supper and a fruit tree raffle?I really think that I have so much in common with these people, and the fact that our diets may differ only offers room for an exchange of ideas.They have asked me to do a talk about Fruitarianism, and one member who is a medical doctor offered me to do a presentation at his surgery. He said to me last night "The only thing found to prevent bowel cancer is fruit."I feel that as fruit lovers , we can gain so much by getting to know and networking with these fellow fruit lovers.If you live in the Tropics or Sub-tropics you may find that there are more fruit groups in your area, because fruit grows more profusely in these areas.In other areas, one good group is the Californian Rare Fruit Growers www.crfg.org/Here is a fruit group in the U.K. www.rhs.org.uk/plants/fruit_group.aspBy getting to know your local farmers and growers, whether they are Tropical Farmers or Temperate farmers, you have the potential to gain much knowledge about fruit as well as getting a fresh local supply.I feel we can broaden our horizons if we move a little way out of the "Raw Movement" and move to embrace the very important fruit-lovers on this planet who grow our food.Love and Peaches,from Anne XX ♥