Keeping the future in mind as we garden is essential to reaping the many benefits that can come from growing at least some of our own food, not the least of which is action on climate change and biodiversity.
Looking Forward: As mentioned earlier, we at HCFS “look forward” to ensure an increasing supply of healthy local food in spite of the daunting challenges facing us, especially climate change and biodiversity losses—the two interconnected crises we see as demanding much more and more urgent attention. Engagement of far more of the public in supporting and taking action to address these issues is critical. We believe that there is a promising opportunity to build on the impressive public interest in healthy local food to engage more people in caring for their foodshed’s health and thus the environment. We have done our share of sharing facts and “educating the public,” but social science research into climate action tells us that is not enough. Engagement is more likely when people experience the impacts of climate (and we would add, of biodiversity losses).
Growing Food While Watching Nature: We have come to the conclusion that getting people gardening and helping people to pay more attention to changes in the natural world around them are two strategies to pursue without delay. When these two strategies are combined, and people observe and monitor changes in natural processes such as weather, pollinators, birds, etc., while growing food, the effect should be highly synergistic—a greater impact than either activity done alone. What gardener, especially one that takes the time to pay attention to nature in and around the garden, doesn’t become acutely aware of climate changes and biodiversity issues.
Gardening is a Powerful Climate Action: The simple act of growing one’s own food is a fundamental action that nearly everyone can engage in to adapt to ever increasing impacts from extreme weather and climate change on our food system, and at the same time to help reduce climate impacts not already locked in. Even if one grows only a small portion of their food needs, it gets one started on a path of greater individual and community self-sufficiency, a path of seeking the most sustainable foods possible beyond what is grown oneself, and a life more in tune with slow-food rather than fast-food values. In those rare cases where backyard or community gardening or even a small container garden on the patio is not feasible, helping or bartering with neighboring gardeners, or buying from local producers you get to know well, is the next best thing.
Gardening with an Eye to the Future is Even More Powerful: As we grow our food, if we keep climate and biodiversity in mind, the importance and irreversibility of these two crises should strengthen our resolve to make gardening the norm throughout the community. Gardens—in backyards, front yards, community gardens, schools, preschools, hospitals, and other institutions—could be a central part of our sustainability efforts, with an urgency and importance reminiscent of the Victory Gardens of years past. If we are good observers in our gardens, we will see the importance of protecting and restoring biodiversity as a key tool for biologically based food production that we will need to shift to in our overall food system. Keen observers will likely see the ethical imperative of coexistence with nature as well.
Gardening for the Future Actually Supports Local Producers: Rather than cutting into local producers’ sales, the more people that grow gardens, the more likely they will insist on the freshest and most sustainable sources for the food they do not grow themselves (likely a majority of their food). They will see the value of good food and recognize the work it takes to grow it well, so they are much more likely to be loyal customers willing to pay neighboring farmers a fair price for their work. They will see how important it is to support existing and prospective farmers and ranchers in the community and in local, state, and federal policies. We see the promotion of gardening as one of the best pathways for creating greater support for local producers.
What Does Gardening with the Future in Mind Look Like? If we are truly observant and aware of what is in store in our future, we will make serious gardening a priority. We see several elements of future-oriented gardening:
- Get serious about producing food. It admittedly depends on your location, time, and resources, but striving to grow as much food as you can will serve you well whatever changes are in store. Don’t wait until you feel sure of yourself to start to garden—learn what you can, talk to fellow gardeners, and be ready to make a few mistakes, but start growing! Support gardens at all schools, preschools, and other institutions as well.
- Be observant. “Watch while you work.” Keep track of pollinators, soil organisms, birds, beneficial insects, and seasonal occurrences (phenology). Share your observations with kids, fellow growers, and even with scientists through Citizen Science programs.
- Grow with the Wild. Following Wild School Garden approaches for kids (and for any gardener) and Wild Farming and Ranching strategies combines astute observation with enlightened management for profound ecological, educational, and production benefits.
- Support local producers. Get to know local farmers and ranchers, buy from them what you don’t grow yourself, learn from them, and support them as loyal customers and as voters so we have a reliable food supply into the future. Get more of their food into all our schools and preschools.
- Care for others. Share food and seeds with others, and consider “growing a row” for the needy. Respect and nurture wildlife and the natural processes that make growing food possible. Show our children we care about them and their future.
- Adapt. Start now looking at seeds, fruit tree varieties, water use, fertility, and management techniques that will work well as our climate changes.
- Mitigate. Make sure we are reducing greenhouse gasses as we garden—much less fossil fuel use, fewer trips to the grocery, efficient water use, healthy soils, less food waste, etc.
Tara Frazer, The Garden Project Board Member says
Thanks, Jim. This was enlightening and inspiring. You make some good points!!