Mariposa Gardening and Design Blog
Plant Food (and) Lawns!
Growing up on a one acre vegetable garden, then later running a 20 acre farm in Vermont, Andrea has grown food every year of her life. She understands the benefits of home gardening and small scale farming inside out. Over the years, Mariposa Gardening and Design has designed and installed many food gardens for people alongside their ornamental plantings.
These gardens are ecologically, socially, and individually sustainable and will be vital components of life in the future. From an ecological standpoint, growing food reduces the amount of fossil fuel we consume in the form of petroleum based fertilizers, mechanized processing, refrigeration, and transportation. It is estimated that 19% of the oil and gas consumed in our country is used in food production. Reducing the consumption of fossil fuels also reduces the production of greenhouse gasses.
By growing food in our own yards, balconies, or roofs, we also reduce our grocery and gas bills, get exercise, and get the satisfaction of eating food we grew ourselves. Planting food crops in urban areas communicates a dedication to taking part in caring for ourselves, our communities, and our world. Plus, it’s fun!
We were extremely pleased to read Michael Pollan’s October 12 letter to the next President of the US, proposing the creation of a “Farmer in Chief.” His letter critiques our current, unsustainable food system, and offers many smart solutions, including planting an organic food garden on the south lawn of the White House. At another similar point in history, Americans called kitchen gardens Victory Gardens. In his article Pollan notes, “The president should throw his support behind a new Victory Garden movement, this one seeking “victory” over three critical challenges we face today: high food prices, poor diets and a sedentary population. Eating from this, the shortest food chain of all, offers anyone with a patch of land a way to reduce their fossil-fuel consumption and help fight climate change.” Let Mariposa Gardening and Design create a Visionary Garden for you.
Check out Michael Pollan’s letter in The New York Times:
Micheal Pollan’s letter