Food Security and Relocalization
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Submitted by mston on Sun, 15/04/2007 - 11:40am.
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Posts: 8
Joined: 21-03-2007 |
This is an interesting blog entry about the challenge of food shortages in a locally based food system. http://casaubonsbook.blogspot.com/2007/04/food-security-and-relocalizati... It's a good read if you have a bit of time. It's based on the assumption of the existence of a purely locally grown food supply. Here's a tidbit: "If we are to rely on our own food production and our own local food sources, we are most likely going to be more vulnerable to those supply failures. This is a real worry, and like Rebecca, I've encountered this concern - and I've had it for myself. Two years ago we lost most of our potato crop to flooding, along with several other major crops. It wasn't a big deal - I just drove over to the localmarket and bought 3 50lbs of potatoes from better drained land than I have. But what if it has been a regional issue, and there were no potatoes to be had?" This blog entry describes a possible solution to this problem: creating a locally based food bank that aims to store 6 months of staple foods for each community member through trading with local farmers and producers. |
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Joined: 19-03-2007
Hey, I don't think your link is working - at least not for me. I think this will work though...
http://casaubonsbook.blogspot.com/2007/04/food-security-and-relocalizati...
Here's my two cents anyways...
Food security for the majority in Fernie who rely on the just in time delivery system of the food retailers(who I believe only have less than a week supply on the shelves) is pretty fragile. A serious gasoline shortage like we had in the 70's, or a couple of well placed land slides on highway 3 and we might not find shopping that way as convenient. I guess it would give us all a chance to see what mountain ash berries taste like.
I believe the best food security would be to provide for your own, to be part of a close knit community that was willing to share in the tough times, and lastly to rely on food imports from elsewhere. A big part of security has to be having a diverse number of plants grown in multiple locations in the region, this way a problem in one area is less likely to affect the others. This applies to the backyard as well as globally. On a household level having a root cellar and a pantry full of staples also adds security. Personally, I've only got a couple of big bags of rice just in case(and because they're cheaper) but hopefully as I learn to be a better gardener/food preserver I can figure out what keeps best under the stairs(makeshift root cellar). Perhaps a communal root cellar for people who don't have the room might be a good idea. I think I've even heard someone toss the idea about.
It would be a great benefit if the older generations who have direct experience could share their knowledge with the younger ones. I'm always interested in trading my muscles for a mind full of wisdom. Hopefully they'll get involved in this forum or make it to the Earth Day seep swap!
Here's a fascinating link about food from the ktunaxa...
http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/ktunaxa/rol.htm
Darren