Much publicity has been given to the increasingly popular option of growing your own food; as only by becoming more self-sufficient can we strive for greater resilience within our communities; be more independent and minimize our Carbon Footprint.
However, achieving this self-sufficiency through the production of their own food is for many impractical and time-consuming; consequently, if we as a society want to achieve less reliance on government restrictions, such as ‘Just in Time’ production strategies, action needs to be taken.
There are a number of options, which you as an individual and owner can make; as the personal choices we make now, such as choosing organic or locally sourced foods, dictate our relationship with food, influence supply and thus shape environmental conditions for future generations.
Purchasing our food from locally produced sources will greatly reduce carbon emissions, as the product has much less embodied energy than the total energy that has gone into its production and subsequent transportation. Foreign imports, which now dominate our supermarket shelves, are indeed high-carbon foods, due to the considerable miles travelled, predominantly by air, to get there.
Options for the city dweller
For many, the choices we make about food are largely dictated by our built environment, in terms of where and how we live. As for many, who live in an urban place, the option of farming oneself can seem unfeasible, uneconomical and impractical; however, while you may not be able to meet all of your needs, it is possible to supplement your existing weekly shopping trip with some homegrown fruits and vegetables.
If you live in an urban area; there are several options available depending on your current circumstances, for example, type of property, amount of space, availability of private or community garden.
- Use of indoor potted plants. – through ‘Hydroponic Gardening’, which is simply a pot filled with water, inert material and a combination of different nutrients essential for growth, these can be purchased at most conventional plant stores such as Home Base.
- hanging slippers – provide an attractive feature outside your home, require minimal maintenance and are ideal for growing spices and herbs.
- green roofs – For many with limited floor space, or who recently built a new extension with a flat roof or have a garage, there is an option for homeowners to grow food on their roof. This is only applicable to those who have ownership of their roof fabric; due to important structural implications/cost constraints. Those in apartments may need to obtain communal consent to carry out such a scheme. Various plants can be grown, which can supplement the food bill, depending on whether you opt for extensive or intensive roof systems. More information found in Green Roofs.
- balconies – Those in apartments can benefit from a balcony, which depending on its orientation, ideally needs 6-7 hours of daylight to grow edible plants.
- Garden plants – Many plants are suitable and capable of growing in small plots on low fertility soils, even contaminated soils, or those suffering from high levels of leaching.
- greenhouses – provides shelter during the winter and maximizes daylight through a magnifying effect, allows a variety of plants to be grown, although it is more expensive and requires sufficient land.
As the UK is becoming more and more of a warmer, Mediterranean climate, the options for growing your own food become much more diverse and varied, making it possible to grow a wide range of different and often associated traditionally as tropical crops/foods.
To achieve complete self-sufficiency, we need to combine home-grown food with localized electricity production if we want to continue our energy-intensive lifestyle. There are a number of items that can be implemented around the home to supplement your fuel bills and reduce your carbon footprint, from wind turbines to the use of solar panels.