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Food Crisis 2010?
(by Alexandra Heath - January 11, 2010)
Many, if not most, of us realize that things are seriously out of balance in the United States. Record high unemployment, massive foreclosures, the shredding of the safety net for the poorest and most vulnerable in society and the unprecedented and unpredictable weather patterns emerging throughout the country, are making people wonder what is in store for us around the corner.
Several months ago, I traveled though the central valley from Bakersfield to Sacramento and was astonished to see brown, empty fields as far as the eye could see. Because of the drought and the decrease in water supplies to central valley farmers, none of the fields had been planted, and orchards and vineyards were dead and dying all along that previously fertile corridor. I thought, this will surely have a drastic impact on food supplies during the coming year.
Recently, several articles on the Internet have pointed out that much of the Midwest has been slammed by heavy rains and snow coming at the worst possible time: right when farmers are ready to harvest. The USDA has declared half of the counties in the Midwest to be primary disaster areas, with a minimum of 30 percent crop loss in those areas. Yet, the USDA is predicting record harvests for 2010! Both of these statements cannot be correct.
If we take the farmers’ words for it, this coming year will see drastic food shortages throughout the country, most likely occurring in the first months of the year. It seems we can expect triple-digit inflation for the available food stores and in much of the country empty shelves in supermarkets, which keep only a 72-hour supply of food on hand before they require additional shipments of food.
We here in Oroville might fare better than many since there are an abundance of small local farmers growing fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, wine and grains. In addition, this area is known as a prime hunting and fishing location, which would allow people to supplement their diets with local fish and wildlife.
While there is no need to panic at this point, it would be well to consider making advance provisions should food supplies be disrupted during the coming year. There are three things that people can do immediately to ensure that they and their families will not suffer in such circumstances.
1. Grow a garden: the bigger the better. Substitute fruit and nut trees for ornamental landscaping and dig up your lawn (which you can’t eat) and plant vegetables. Spring is right around the corner and it’s not too early to get started preparing the ground for planting. If you are living in an apartment or a rental house, get to know your neighbors and work together to plant a community garden that will benefit everyone. The old saying, “Many hands make the load light,” is particularly useful to consider.
2. Learn to “put up” what you grow by canning, drying, and freezing your produce. There are plenty of helpful sites on the web and some of the companies that make canning supplies and equipment provide free guides to help you get started. Utilize any unused space for storage: under a stairwell, a corner of the garage or basement, under the bed, or underutilized storage closets.
3. If you don’t know how, learn to cook. Not only will your health improve; but also you will be eating the freshest, most delicious food you’ve ever tasted. Cut out the soda, the processed dinners and snack foods. They’re expensive, detrimental to your health, and have little or no nutritional value. The local Seventh Day Adventist church offers classes in cooking healthy meals, and I don’t believe that you need to be a church member to benefit from the education. If you have family members or friends who cook, enlist their help in teaching you how to make simple wholesome meals using whole foods and fresh ingredients.
In addition, support your local Farmers’ Markets. They will undoubtedly prove to be a food lifeline for members of our community.
Finally, “Be prepared” isn’t just a motto for the Boy Scouts. Take it to heart and you and your family need not be catastrophically affected by the coming food crisis.
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