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MadameButterfly

(3,260 posts)
25. Individual gardens just aren't practical for everybody
Fri Mar 28, 2025, 08:03 AM
Mar 2025

I gardened for years and loved it but realized it was competing with my career. There are dedicated organic farmers who can grow food much more efficiently than I can and who need the support from those of us who care. If we buy from farmers markets, join CSAs, support organizations that buy land for small farmers, we are doing as much or more than if we had our own garden.

Where I live there is the Agricultural Stewardship Association. They buy land and make it affordable for beginning farmers. These farmers commit to making the land for farming forever. This means it can't be developed.

I've been to NOFA conferences in NY and VT--I assume they have them in every state. Farmers who present are constantly innovating farming methods. There is an army of young people dedicating their lives to this cause. There are organizations that offer opportunities to invest in organic farming. The primary goal is to promote organic farming but investors do make money.

It was most important for me to have a garden when my daughter was young to understand where food really comes from. So that she would grow up valuing vegetables and understanding the role we and nature play. Now my priority is to support people who can produce organic food on a small scale (the large scale farms aren't doing it right) but on a much larger scale than I ever could.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

is it me or are fruits just not as tasty as they used to be Skittles Mar 2025 #1
Most fruits ive had have been either tasteless Figarosmom Mar 2025 #4
takes me back! Skittles Mar 2025 #12
The quality of produce, like the quality of meat, has really dropped. Soils are depleted of nutrients highplainsdem Mar 2025 #8
Anyone who has had a garden MadameButterfly Mar 2025 #9
I do get some from a farmers market Skittles Mar 2025 #21
its about the soil MadameButterfly Mar 2025 #24
interesting, I had not heard about that.....thanks Skittles Mar 2025 #28
Don't know if this applies I_UndergroundPanther Mar 2025 #2
It depends where you shop. LisaM Mar 2025 #16
ooh I have noticed that too! Skittles Mar 2025 #29
I grow heirloom veggies Figarosmom Mar 2025 #3
You make a good point GardenGnome Mar 2025 #6
The same with Figarosmom Mar 2025 #7
Oh! I thought it was just me noticing that mwmisses4289 Mar 2025 #11
Thanks GardenGnome Mar 2025 #15
My experience GardenGnome Mar 2025 #5
This is not possible as we are being forced into tiny apartments. LisaM Mar 2025 #18
The modern world isn't designed for living off the land. GardenGnome Mar 2025 #20
We don't have a balcony. In hindsight, that should have been a priority. LisaM Mar 2025 #23
That's a really good point GardenGnome Mar 2025 #27
The housing they throw up is all short term. LisaM Mar 2025 #30
Individual gardens just aren't practical for everybody MadameButterfly Mar 2025 #25
I used to love broccoli. My favorite vegetable. But since I had COVID last winter, I can't eat it. C Moon Mar 2025 #10
I think the use of pesticides has played a big role nuxvomica Mar 2025 #13
A number of things are contributing mwmisses4289 Mar 2025 #14
We can thank Monsanto for that RainCaster Mar 2025 #19
Quantity over quality BidenRocks Mar 2025 #17
It's the soil. no_hypocrisy Mar 2025 #22
Does anyone know if the situation is better in Europe? RockCreek Mar 2025 #26
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