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Fresh, Safe & Affordable Food

by Peter Geiger | Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 | From: Farmers' Almanac Blog

Amid all the economic doom and gloom, there is one industry that is doing better than ever. According to the  National Gardening Association, the number of homes with vegetable gardens is expected to grow by 40% or more this year. There was a similar jump last year. And, many communities are now allowing folks to raise chickens in their backyards. This is an old movement that is making a timely comeback.
It is being driven by three factors. First is the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables in stores vs. tightening food budgets. The second is the number of health scares associated with products grown all over the world.

Finally, I think there is an increased satisfaction in being able to do something with your hands.

Regarding food safety, last summer it was spinach, tomatoes and  seranno peppers . Tainted peanut butter from a Georgia plant has made even bigger news this year. The FDA works overtime protecting consumers. Most companies quickly recall tainted products. There are hundreds of advisories each year, few the size of the peanut butter fiasco. For a list of what gets recalled go to   http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/archive_2008.html . So, if you want it to be fresh, safe and affordable, then grow your own. . It isn’t as easy as just planting a seed. It takes a level of TLC to nurture the plants. But, the result is safe, fresh and healthy food for your table and something to share with your neighbors.

One company I have come to admire is Johnny’s Selected Seeds of Winslow Maine.  I have seen their facility and they really offer a fine product,  well priced for the consumer. Check them online at www.johnnyseed.com. You may  already have a favorite source for your seeds. Either way, don’t be afraid to give it a shot. And, you can always turn to the Farmers’ Almanac for a planting guide, last frost dates in your area, videos on building a garden and so much more.
If you haven’t spent time on our website, go to http://www.farmersalmanac.com/video/ and http://www.farmersalmanac.com/home_garden/ and explore dozens of videos dealing with gardening and hundreds of best articles. It would be time well spent. If you don’t see something you are looking for, just ask me at pgeiger@farmersalmanac.com.

If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.

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