How revisiting Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Gardens program could help feed a suffering nation.

The Monterey County News ^ | December 11, 2008 | Ari LeVaux

[panaxanax]

Railroad ties are treated with Creosote, which is highly carcinogenic. Dispose of the ties and the soil and do not re-plant in the same spot or an area below where this garden was located. Do a search for “Creosote MSDA” (Material Safety Data Sheet).

========== Hazards Identification ===========

LD50 LC50 Mixture:ORAL RAT:1.7G/KG;DERMAL >7.95G/KG
Routes of Entry: Inhalation:NO Skin:YES Ingestion:YES
Reports of Carcinogenicity:NTP:YES IARC:YES OSHA:YES
Health Hazards Acute and Chronic:ACUTE:IRRITATION OF EYES,SKIN AND
RESPIRATORY TRACT;VAPORS MAY CAUSE CNS
EFFECTS;HEADACHE,DROWSINESS,DIZZINESS,WEAKNESS,COMA,POSSIBLE
DEATH.INGESTION MAY CAUSE G.I. DISTURBANCES,NAUSEA,VOMITING,PAIN.
CHRONIC:DERMATITIS,SKIN DISEASE,AND ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS ON BLOOD
FORMING ORGANS.
Explanation of Carcinogenicity:CONTAINS BENZENE <1.0%;A SUSPECTED HUMAN
CARCINOGEN &(CANCER IN LAB ANIMALS)
Effects of Overexposure:IRRITATING TO SKIN & EYES. VAPOR & FUMES ARE
IRRITATING TO EYES, NOSE, THROAT, & SKIN
Medical Cond Aggravated by Exposure:PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS MAY BE
WORSEN.

[ottbmare]

Well, I spent my formative years on a large farm and think of myself as a country girl. Last year I decided to tear up half the back yard and plant vegetables. It was an expensive disaster. Part of the reason is that my yard, like many in the East, was carved from what had been woodland, and that meant the soil had to be conditioned. It was filled with roots and rocks that don’t affect lawn growing but does make the soil hard to cultivate. The pH had to be adjusted. It required lashings of fertilizer. I had to pour tons of city water on it, and of course city water is chlorinated and not the best for watering a garden. Overall the yield was extremely disappointing.

I’m going to give it another try this year, but those turned out to be very expensive vegetables.

[Dawn531]

Thanks for the warming. We planted the garden, years ago, when my son was younger (he’s 20 now) and we were homeschooling, and we only did it for one season. The ties and soil have been gone for over 10 years.

[EBH]

They make it sound like they are rediscovering veggie gardening!!! OMG! This article is a riot of a laugh. Most city folks and suburbanites have no idea how to veggie garden.

Here is where I get my seeds from: http://www.victoryseeds.com/ Good heirloom quality seeds, from which I can save seeds on my own. Most of the new hybrid stocks don't produce a viable seed stock.

What is frightening to think about in regards to the article is to start to wonder if the new administration isn't forewarning about a food ration? Is this actually a propaganda piece?

Think about it for a moment. He has already told us energy prices are going to escalate and people are going to have to decide between wants/needs over human basics. Food, heat, cooling, water, shelter... If you're growing a portion of your own food you can pay for energy, you can pay the new taxes, you can pay for health insurance...

The new administration has already told us things are going to get worse, not better anytime soon.

[redgolum]

Indeed, our poor are the richest in the world.

But planting a garden is a very good idea. We are expecting our first, and I have been planning to plant a different variety of things than I usually do now.

Also, it is a good idea to find a farmer (or raise your own) who will sell you a half or whole butchered cow. Get a freezer, and stash it away. We haven’t bought hamburger for almost five years now, my father in law keeps us well stocked.

[panaxanax]

You’re very welcome. I didn’t mean to sound like a dad barking out orders to his kids, sorry. Creosote is nasty stuff and I didn’t want you and your family getting poisoned. Good FReepers are a valuable commodity around here and we don’t want to lose anyone! Good luck

panax

[G.Mason]

While a vegetable garden is nice (I have a 25’x25’garden myself) it is only a hobby and will only minimally supplement your regular intake of vegetables.

You can farm, or you can work at your job. You certainly can't do both. (Pssssst! If you choose farming you'd better move out of that city & get some land)

This crap is a Socialist pipe dream aimed at the mental defectives.

[livius]

This is stupid hippie stuff from Northern California that has been around for decades. There’s certainly nothing wrong with gardening, but the idea that America is “suffering” and that somehow people will start little backyard gardens that will replace “agribusiness” (or maybe the author really means after agribusiness farms have been collectivized and thus cease to produce anything) is ridiculous.

The fantasy of the US as tiny colonies of peasants tending their Chinese-style plots while the government supplies their other wants is a long-entrenched leftist California dream, and it’s not only idiotic and unworkable, but is a dangerous blueprint for oppression and starvation.

[elpadre]

Remembering victory gardens from my youth, we put in a veggie garden for the first time last Spring as a statement against the increasing prices at the market. We didn't save that much but we sure received a psychological boost doing so.

[netmilsmom]

Patio tomatoes in containers are fun and easy.

[weegee]

the two wars we’re currently fighting have only helped sink the economy even more

Corruption from Democrats surrounding Fannie Mae etc. are what have killed our economy. It appears to have been a looting of the treasury by Socialists. Same as always happens when they want to come to power in a nation.

[weegee]

While we probably don’t need another world war, some lessons learned during the last one may still be relevant.

Because trying to live alongside Islamonazism and a "nusiance" level of terrorism has worked so well for 40 years, right? Not everyone should be permitted to live under Democracy, right?

Useful idiot. Go sit among your your carrots.

[weegee]

I don’t see how victory gardens are supposed to work when Obambi has said that America shouldn’t be this world leader anymore. We shouldn’t be victorious over anything.

Besides, I don’t want to have to go to Home Depot to find some illegal aliens to pick the produce in my garden, after all we are told that Americans won’t do this work.

[Judith Anne]

Fruit trees are ornamental, and with a minimum of care, produce a LOT of food. Berries and grapes are very satisfying as well, you can get a lot of juice to freeze and use throughout the winter. I used to make jellies, but now stick to juices, because they’re better for you.

[livius]

You’re right! We clearly have to change the name. “Victory” - shudder - gardens just won’t do in today’s new improved USA.

[Gabz]

Garden Ping.........

Tucked in amongst the obvious moonbattery there are actually some decent ideas.....

[tom paine 2]

My wife and I have had a “victory garden” ever since we got married 35 years ago. Great stuff and untaxed by the greedy politicians,

[trisham]

It's lovely to think of Spring. :)

We're expecting freezing rain today.

[metmom]

ping

[tob2]

I live in an apartment, on the ground floor. My landlord has given me permission to have some planters by my front door. Not enough light to grow cucumbers, beans or tomatoes; there is enough for culinary herbs, lettuce, spinach and arugula. Also pansies, geraniums, etc. I know growing your own is the best tasting and least expensive way to get vegetables.