Winter, and I have time to read. My readings this winter have taken me down an unexpected path; a path that indicates that food production may in the next decade move increasingly away from big business and more towards local farms and perhaps even to suburban backyards and urban lots.
My interest was peaked (pun soon to be revealed) this past August at this summer’s Northeast Organic Farming Association [1] conference. Concurrent workshops are held throughout the conference. Pete and I try to pick workshops we each find interesting without attending the same ones so as to collectively gain more knowledge and insight. It so happens, however, that we both chose workshops relating to fossil fuels use, both in agriculture and daily living. We both viewed the documentary “The End of Suburbia.” I learned in one of my classes that on average it takes ten calories of fossil fuel to get one calorie of food into my house. These ten calories excludes the energy used to store (refrigeration or freezing) and cook it. In the article by Norman Church, Why Our Food is So Dependant on Oil, Mr. Church points out that food that travels internationally bumps the ratio even higher. For example, when iceberg lettuce is exported to the UK from the USA by plane, 127 calories of energy (aviation fuel) are needed to transport 1 calorie of lettuce across the Atlantic. Similarly, 97 calories of transport energy are needed to import 1 calorie of asparagus [2] by plane from Chile.
It is also no secret that conventional agriculture uses large amounts of fossil fuel not only in its machinery but also in the manufacture of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. And we’ve not even mentioned packaging.
In his article titled Meeting the Challenge of Peak Oil, John Ikerd estimates the energy savings from shifting to more sustainable agricultural systems and using currently available methods and technologies, probably could cut total fossil energy use in agriculture by one-half, resulting in a savings equivalent to about 3% of total fossil energy use. Similar efficiencies in processing and distribution could save an additional 6% or so in fossil energy use.
Of course we all know that fossil fuel use pervades our society in most everything we do and use, from cars to plastic trinkets. It is painfully obvious that most citizens of first world countries are addicted to oil.
Global Warming
Well it finally made the mainstream press. It's true. The globe is warming, icebergs are melting, permafrost is thawing and hurricanes are gaining intensity. What has caused this? We know the answer - our addiction to fossil fuels. What I learned at this summer’s NOFA conference was that, it appears in a rather disturbing irony Mother Nature may be poised to have the last word.
Peak Oil
This term has had virtually no coverage in mainstream press, although a rather large underground movement seems to be gaining momentum. I was easily able to obtain two peak oil books from my local library via interlibrary loan and there are virtually tons of gigabytes of information on the net. I will include links at the bottom of this article.
For a definition of peak oil I will use John Ikerd's words from the same article mentioned above. “Peak oil is a concept based on the premise that peaks in oil production occur when approximately half of the total amount of oil in a particular oil field has been extracted, which typically occurs some 30-40 years after the initial discovery. Beyond that point, extraction becomes increasingly difficult and costly and total production inevitably declines. Changes in extraction methods and uncertainty regarding Middle East oil reserve data have made precise calculations difficult, but most forecasters now place the year of global peak oil somewhere between 2006 and 2010. Even more optimistic government forecasts indicate a peak in global production between 2010 and 2015, with a 70% decline in total oil production by 2050. If major new oil fields were discovered next year, which is highly unlikely, those fields would not reach peak production for another 30-40 years. The world quite simply must learn to live with less oil.”
Taking the optimistic date of 2050, it means that in less than 50 years more than half of all the oil in the world will have been used up. Mr. Ikerd points out the remaining oil will be increasingly difficult (located deeper in the earth) and more costly (tar sands) to extract, more than likely reaching a point in which it is more costly to extract than the value of the energy it would produce.
I am not going to wade into the furry of debate that is prevalent on the many online ezines and forums. I will not speculate on how much time we have left with our SUVs, plastic trinkets, and a functioning climate, nor will I make any attempt at predicting the viability of alternative energies. I will let you, dear reader, research these topics on your own.
I do ask you to keep this glaring irony in mind: Our possible forced reduction of fossil fuel use due to decreasing availability and increasingly high cost maybe be just what it takes to save Mother Nature.
I will also point out that many experts in both the global warming and peak oils camps agree that the time to correct our mistakes was yesterday. The deafening silence from “the powers that be” indicate the solutions will need to and will most likely begin from the grassroots up, just like organics.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change te world. Indded, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
On a personal level all of us should be conserving right now. You know all the sensible things such as turning off lights when you aren’t in a room, turning down the thermostat and wearing a sweater, buying less trinket, buying more local food, and of course driving your high mileage car as little as possible. Also very important, accrue no additional debt and work towards becoming debt free as soon as possible. In a world where the basic necessities may become very expensive it will be very comforting to be able to afford them from the comfort of your mortgage free house.
As this is a CSA column in Farm & Garden we will concentrate on local agriculture. For a long time it has been no secret that local food is much tastier than grocery store food, and while there are few mainstream studies to prove it, I believe local food is also more nutritious. The fossil fuel used by local agriculture, especially organic local agriculture, is a mere drop in the oil barrel compared to conventional agriculture.
For the past nine years I have been comfortable with this definition of local agriculture, but in virtually all the peak oil writings I’ve read to date, they state that local agriculture will be a must. A must. I began to feel an uncomfortable responsibility to feed “the world.” I know, in actuality, just my corner of it. A daunting task none the less, to not just supplement the grocery, store but to replace it.
Desperate for some guidance as to how two small time local farmers could take on the challenge, I asked some of my online agriculture/peak oil friends. Two such friends had these comforting words: “Being a CSA Farmer (or any small farmer) is already a huge contribution,” and “Ok, I said to myself, I suppose this is correct but what more can I do to be ready to step up to the plate (pun intended).”
The suggestions pointed to evaluating the crops mix with a nod to year-round local eating. Whew! Now that’s a challenge, something I, a small farmer, have not even come close to achieving in my personal life. Even some of the more pessimistic peak oilers suggest that the slide into decreasing oil use will be a slow one; one in which with some pre-planning we will hopefully be able to navigate with a increased local economy. So with optimism I will begin to, hopefully, make Green Hill Farm an increasing part of a new local economy.
Most of the food provided in our CSA is eaten weekly with fairly little preserved for winter use. Even I do not store as much as I should but that does not mean my New England farm cannot grow storable food. Foods such as potatoes, most winter squashes, roots crops such as beets [3], carrots [4] and turnips (some varieties of which can be animal food), onions [5], garlic, cabbage [6], foods that dry well such as certain varieties or corn [7] and beans, and of course most herbs [8] (which may gain popularity as medicinals), come quickly to mind. Grains are a product I have yet only read about and Pete has only used as green manure [9] (cover crops). They can be grown in our climate. Threshing and grinding bring up challenges but I see just the planting of these “new” crops as a learning experience - most likely a necessary learning experience. I have certainly learned in the past nine growing seasons that one must actually grow a product to become proficient with it. Simply reading about it won’t cut it. As the demand for increased local products takes place so too should supporting business-like mills. At one time New England was scattered with mills of many types, grinding mills as well as fiber mills.
Suggestions to plant perennial foods crops make a lot of sense to me: plant, forget and harvest. While not quite that easy, perennials do eliminate the yearly step of planting. Some suggestions are asparagus, strawberries and fruit trees. We have grown peaches with some success in the past. Our original trees have succumbed to old age and in our oil-addicted haze we’ve not gotten around to replanting. Fruit trees, especially peach, are on this year's to do list. I’ve never had apples trees here and would love to try some, possibly a mix of dwarf and full size. Soft fruits raspberries, blueberries and some varieties of grapes grow well for us. Nuts and cherries can be grown here. I know I am forgetting many other fine edible trees, but suffice it to say any edible tree or bush appropriate for your climate would be a fine addition to the local market.
Animal Husbandry
I’ve read both pro and con articles about the keeping of livestock as part of the local food supply. The anti-livestock folks point out that the food we feed to animals could be eaten directly by humans. The pro-livestock group point out that animals supply much needed fertility, food on the “hoof” (no need to refrigerate) and there are many animals that forage quite well on food humans could never eat (grass).
I am in the pro-livestock camp for the above stated reasons. While I have never attempted to let my chickens hustle all their own food they do forage for as much as half of their diet. I have not attempted to crunch the numbers but I think I feed my flock of 40 hens about half the recommended amount of purchased food. With better flock management, such as eating more of the older birds instead of over wintering, I believe I could carry a small flock 10 to 20 laying and breeding birds through the winter by supplementing with on-farm produced grains. My birds free range in the winter as well as the rest of the year and do seem to find quite a bit of greenery and bugs even through the snow.
We have raised our Scottish Highland cattle on grass and hay only. We are able to support our 20 head herd very easily on our pastures in the spring and summer. If purchased hay became unavailable or cost prohibitive I believe we’d have to cut the number at least in half to feed them through the winter with on-farm produce food.
I have not raised goats but have two fat pet sheep that survive very well on only grass and hay. As the spirit moves I sometimes feed them a tiny bit of grain in the winter, mostly as a treat and to keep them liking me (makes them easier to catch). I will not replace these sheep when they are gone but I am giving serious thought to a dairy goat or two.
I will caution, if you do not enjoy animal husbandry I do not recommend acquiring any simply because you think you “should.” Local partnerships (barter) could develop between vegetable producers and animal producers.
Value Added
If a truly local food economy does develop there no doubt will be increased markets for such things as local jam, relish, sauerkraut and possibly even canned meats. Right now the regulations and cost make it prohibitive for many small producers. Will some regulations ease when federal and local governments are no longer protecting the big agro corporations? Perhaps. If value added products are something you’ve been toying with or simply enjoy making for yourself I say continue to perfect your craft. I am going to purchase a pressure canner and will also learn to make soap.
Knowledge
The other “product” all of us small farmers and gardeners possess is knowledge. We need the knowledge necessary to grow a diversified mix of products in our locale. As local food gains more importance we will need more local farmers to meet the demand. The knowledge the present local farmers possess will need to be passed on. Without fear of hyperbole I see small farmers as a living encyclopedia set containing information that may very well mean the survival of our fellow local citizens. You need only to look to Cuba’s transformation from a fossil fuel based agricultural system to the local low input system in place now. I read that the remaining old farmers still alive at the beginning of the transformation became valuable teachers and resources.
A Good Thing
I have no crystal ball as to our climate or economic future. At times I find all the gloomy news enough to make me want to go to a mall and shop till I drop. I’ve known in my gut for some time, however, that humankind cannot dump increasing amounts of toxins into our atmosphere and planet without ecological repercussions. I learned in school many years ago that oil was a finite resource. I know living more sustainably is the right (although not easy) thing to do. As small farmers we have the opportunity to help our fellow citizens both as a provider of nourishment and knowledge.
Whether a CSA Farmer, Market Farmer or Backyard Gardener, we as my online friends pointed out, are already doing something huge to move us toward a more sustainable and fossil fuel free future. Dark clouds maybe be looming but I find much emotional comfort in being part of “ a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens” working for the good for our small corners of the world.
Do not hesitate to contact me publicly via comments or privately via my email link for further readings see links.
Links
Post-Carbon Family [10]. A good discussion group.
Energy Bulletin [11]. Lots of articles about global warming and peak oil.
Groovy Green [12]. More upbeat information.
Peak Oil Blues. Exploring emotional reactions to Peak Oil.
The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies by Richard Heinberg
Casaubon's Book [13] by Sharon Astyk.
Permaculture. [14]. Read up on the harmonious integration of human activities with the environments.