Monday, 13th June, 2022
The Day’s hand-picked ideas, tips to better grow Vegs, and meet people you should know.
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1
Gov doesn’t recommend You grow Vegs?!
"The UK Government has published its long-awaited Food Strategy White Paper, outlining priorities for food system policy changes on the biggest scale in a decade. Here, we round up the key reaction, highlighting concerns around the lack of legal commitments on social and environmental sustainability." — The UK Government finally released today its food strategy (much delayed, and they were given a very comprehensive review White Paper in July 2021 by Henry Dimbleby). Here is what he had to say on the Gov’s actions: “[This is] not a strategy. It doesn’t set out a clear vision as to why we have the problems we have now and what needs to be done.” Another commented: “The White Paper seems to focus heavily on hi-tech solutions and industrial farming, which the LWA believes is fundamentally the wrong way to go. Hi-tech solutions like automation in horticulture and genetically edited food are false solutions to the food systems crisis, the environmental crisis and the cost-of-living crisis. What we need is a whole system change.” — While the Gov tries to establish how to best grow Vegs in a way that works for the planet and for you - and that they forgot all its Citizens could actually get involved in growing Vegs! - you can already get started with the solutions that already exists and mostly cost very little…
2
While the UK Gov thinks… others do!
"As one of the newest trends, hyper-local sourcing is taking the foodservice industry by storm. Commercial foodservice establishments are taking the idea of buying local, sustainably-sourced foods to the next level by growing produce right in their own backyards." — All their tips are worth considering not only for a small hyper-local business, but for anyone who wants to grow nutrients-rich Vegs, with a garden; or even without a garden.
3
Humble nasturtium
"Nasturtiums are one of the easiest multi-function plants you can grow. They are not just a pretty face but have a myriad of uses." — that’s one cool plant (with many varieties, not just the orange ones!): you can eat any parts of it, fresh or pickled, even animals love them, maintains moistures in your soil, and great companion planting, can be sacrificed as a decoy for your high value Vegs, and turned into soil manure. What’s not to love about this plant?!
4
People you should know
"Creating change by sharing science." Urban Ag News. — You bet they get my interest with such a cool tagline! They want to be the “leading science communicator for the commercial hydroponics, greenhouse vegetable, vertical farming and urban agriculture industries. Urban Ag News educates readers and provides an understanding of the industry’s latest technologies and luminaries.” — They have some really great content, with a mix of science, technologies, commercial considerations and tips for growers of all sizes. Check them out!
5
Never a dill moment
“Emergency” authorisations: "emergency authorisation for a plant protection product […] Neither the efficacy nor the phytotoxicity of the product for which this Emergency authorisation has been granted has been assessed and, as such the user bears the risk in respect of failures concerning its efficacy and phytotoxicity. […]Total reliance on one pesticide will hasten the development of resistance. Pesticides of different chemical types or alternative control measures should be included in the planned programme. Alternating with different modes of action is a recognised antiresistance strategy. — If you monitor those things (I’m a Geek, I do!) I’m always amazed at not only the duration (basically growing season June to October), yearly frequency of those exceptions granted, and how widespread the usage is granted for, when so little is known about a chemical product. Do read the full notice also for how dangerous it is to the ecosystem. Even some large scale producers - and many home gardeners - use natural fertilisers. How about we put as much efforts in educating everyone how to use those?
+ Singapore Gov means action instead: "As a land-scarce country with few natural resources, Singapore currently produces less than 10% of its food. In 2019, the Singapore government launched a “30 by 30” plan, with the goal of building up the city-state’s capability and capacity to produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally and sustainably by 2030." — Their context is pushing them to get creative to grow more of their own food: they have little space (less than 1% of land for growing food), they have little space (they are innovating to grow more vertically), and combine it with Aquaponics to further reduce their water usage - Singapore also has invested in plants to create clean water from Sea water… - and they are investing to innovate to lower indoor growing energy costs. Compare the UK Gov’s response and Singapore’s… Which do you think will work best? Best of all, you can also apply their Vegs growing strategy at home!
+ Set up camp indoor: "Active Grow, a horticultural lighting manufacturer, announces the launch of two new 3-Tier LED Walden Grow Tent Kits: The Flowers and Fruits High-Intensity Kit and The Vegetables and Greens High-Intensity Kit. These innovative and easy-to-use systems allow growers of all experience levels to grow high-light requirement plants at home with professional results." — Even if you don’t have a garden, you can grow Vegs all year round, at home. I’ve shared how to grow Microgreens, ActiveGrow bring you another amazing ready-to-produce kit to grow Vegs, Fruits and even “medicinal” plants!
6
Bottom of the compost pile
Learn to love Clay: "Clay is no one’s favorite form of soil to have in a garden. It’s quite challenging to work with and persons who have been cursed with it often feel like growing vegetables successfully is next to impossible. Have no fear; there are specific vegetables to grow in clay soil so you can ensure success! After all, loamy and well-drained soil is what many gardeners aim to have, and plants are always happy to spread their roots in this environment" — I certainly have Clay soil and it takes much of my work to add organic matter to the soil I have to work with - I cheat a little, I use raised-beds to make it better faster!
+ Worm tower composting "Vermicompost is the process of converting organic waste into nutrient rich humus through the use of earthworms. The newest incarnation of this process is the worm tower. A worm compost tower is a similar to an enclosed worm farm but with the tower placed directly into the garden. You can purchase a compost tower or make your own DIY worm compost tower." — This is a miniature concept of the Keyhole garden - it really works in miniature or Keyhole scale! I tend to have a simple pot in the middle of raised bed and put either unfinished compost or other organic materials I have around the garden which don’t make it to the compost bin first. Check out all those example.
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Keep Growing-
Anthony - Veg Geek