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This little blip from Seeking Alpha calmly states that global food production will be reduced 20 to 40 percent due to droughts in the world’s bread baskets. As a resident in one of those dry breadbaskets, I find it hard to fathom the abstract tone of that very brief article. When food supplies are restricted, disorder follows. Governments are horrible at bringing about the appropriate measures until crisis becomes severe or becomes a full blown disaster. The federal and state governments should be pushing hard for conversions of lawns into vegetable beds and food forests, for drought resistant landscaping and water catchment systems, for greywater irrigation and water conserving sewage systems. But no…at first they will restrict water use and then as time progresses and it gets worse they’ll restrict more, and then a year or two later they’ll actually start making the necessary implementations way after they are needed. We have no idea how long this global drought will stretch out, but the wise thing to do would be to plan like this was how it will be for the foreseeable future. We have destroyed so much vegetation, interrupted water ways and caused major disruption to many if not all of the earth’s natural water cycles. So it might be a looong time before the heavens are once more generous. Healthy water cycles require abundant healthy forests, rivers, lakes, soils and oceans.

So, that is a long way of saying “there’s a bad moon on the rise”. but…rather than panicking about it, why don’t we………

PARTY!!!!!!

(woot)

It really is up to each one of us lowly citizens to make this world a better place because at the moment Uncle Sam is at best incompetent and at worst downright destructive when it comes to promoting a healthier world. So we are going to be forced to get down, get busy and celebrate our way through this challenging century. This last Saturday (June 6) I went over the hill to Santa Cruz to hang out with Devin Slavin and take part in the Gardens of Gratitude weekend. I’m not sure what the ultimate garden count was, but several Grow Food Party Crews were assembled and we hit the town, hung out, designed and planted gardens to help move Santa Cruz towards becoming an edible oasis.

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Our Party Crew designed and planted Snap Pea Garden and it was awesome to see everyone who came out and volunteered their time and energy to make it happen.

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Garden “Snap Pea” Before

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Garden “Snap Pea” During

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Garden “Snap Pea” After Day 1

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Garden “Snap Pea” Completion (will post a pic in a month or two with the ‘final’ result)

The industrial agriculture system is reaching the bottom of the barrel and will not be able to function like it has over the last half century. But there is great hope and possibility beyond the industrial system. The Dervaes urban homestead is an excellent example of how ultra-local, hand worked food production can be far more efficient in the use of space, water and energy than the industrial machine. However, that is only one house out there in Pasadena. We need whole neighborhoods overflowing with edible plants.

Implementing the necessary changes just as an individual can be daunting, expensive and exhausting. With Grow Food Party Crews though, it becomes a celebration, a fun event where many hands come together to make light work and do something positive. We need a whole country full of Grow Food Party Crews to step up, have fun and start to bring positive change. The powers that be and the naysayers will be no help, and may try to get in our way (especially if Big Ag starts to get their toes stepped on), so we have to look after ourselves. Through biointensive vegetable production, perennial food crops, edible food forests and edible landscapes we can take steps towards making our world so much more healthy and beautiful.

So….let’s do it!! If anyone is interested in getting together for Grow Food Party Crews in San Jose or the greater South Bay Area shoot me an email at “info” at “porchsideecology.com”. Or if you are interested in getting your own garden creation and celebration movement going, I would recommend contacting Devin Slavin for ideas and suggestions on how to organize these kinds of events.

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The author, sporting the magnificent “Victory Mullet” (front and side shots for your viewing pleasure).