Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 09/21/2008 10:20:14 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
It’s much more about agricultural techniques than just climate. Imagine, monks in the Russian sub-Arctic areas (close to Norway) grew eadible grapes about 150 years ago. They had no plastic, but used other materials for their green houses.
Point is I have really learned quite alot about success with an acre garden in an arctic climate. We live outta our garden a good part of the year actually. Growing fresh food for the family and friends is one thing, growing it economically, and beating the climate is another; no matter where you live along the arctic circle.
Ya, we had an off summer too. Dry early, then a month or so of monsoon rain, then we had first frost by the end of July. Still, there’s something about picking and eating fresh outta the garden over Sam’s produce flown in at over a dollar a lb. The river is still up 4 foot above normal but starting to clear up.
Global Warming on Free Republic
It was warmer when the Vikings settled there than in the subsequent centuries, when the Little Ice Age cooled things off. The cooling wasn't so much that they couldn't have continued to farm there (southwest Greenland) in the summer, but it became less hospitable. Poorer weather meant worse crops and thus less food to store to make it through the long winter -- and that was a PROBLEM.
“Greenland was named by the Erik the Red so that he could lure some unsuspecting Viking settlers to follow him ....”
His decendents write real estate ads.
Not only is he quite the farmer but he has a future in the marketing department of the new Greenland Farmer's Co-op.
I never saw any geothermal around Anchorage, but heard that it was common out in western Alaska. I’ve been to hot springs when it was minus 30 outside; pretty nice actually.
Alot of people grow tomatoes in greenhouses around here. Everything else is marginal, for their own consumption as the increased cost of production (in greenhouses) can’t compete with lower 48 produce even with shipping.
Every spring I build another raised bed with plastic framed top; they work for me.
I know a few people who grow special tomatoes in greenhouses for local dining estbalishments and do well. I also know an old German Guy (one of the smartest guys I have met in Ak) who grows those big baskets of flowers then sells them in bulk to stores come summer. He once said his trick was to use special seeds from Germany of course; which produced nicer plants. he also said that he could never make money growing produce in greenhouse but much more at flower baskets that sell for 40 bucks each. He always told me that he spent more $$$$ cooling his greenhouses in May than heating them in February. You see, I would have never thought about that myself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.