"Agri-puncture"

More food for thought.

The horticulural skills of food deprived urban dwellers are astonishing: Find empty property, break into the electric supply, install big lights, a hydroponic water and feed system, as many dope plants as you can fit in the space ..... they are going to laugh in your face at the idea of growing broccoli or something.

Hazel has a good point...  I know in one of the large urban areas a couple of hours from where I live it was crime that closed down the actual grocery stores.  They weren't being robbed of food, they were being robbed of money (as in the cash registers).  There is no incentive for businesses to open in that area because the crime level is so high, they simply don't think it's worth the risk.
On a side note, anyone who is wondering (if anyone remembers) I tried my vanilla extract made with vanilla beans and premium vodka yesterday...  YUMMY!!!

Cuba certainly adjusted nicely to the cutoff of food supplies after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Vacant fields and yards turned into vest pocket farms, and the government encourged the movement, among other things by providing seeds and conducting courses teaching exactly how to maximize returns. Wish there were more vacant land plots in the slums if Rio De Janero. In the most notorious ghetto, even the police are afraid to patrol in small units and ordinary patrol cars. Narcotics and gun traffickers abound, furthermore gangs that kidnap wealthy locals & tourists for ransom fester like ugly sores.

Good morning everyone!!!  As soon as I can, I'll read the article on Urban Acupuncture.  I just wanted to say that it's truly a shame what is happening in our country with regards to food, toxins, etc.  The price of everything good is going up... so much is being destroyed, tampered with and controlled by various governmental structures and outside forces.  What happened to the days of being able to having and maintaining your own farm, growing organic vegetables, keeping healthy livestock roaming freely and eggs not being tampered with to the point of poisoning or killing people who indulged in them.  It's so bothersome that fast food is the affordable food of choice nowadays.  I'm frustrated with the control that certain political parties are trying to impose on us as Americans, clamping down on what we can or cannot grow in our backyard, hampering our ability to exercise our freedom to live a healthier lifestyle.  Supermarkets are increasing their prices on vegetables, dairy and meat astronomically and it's disgusting.   Would love to have my own farm and be able to do as Peterman will be this weekend!  I salute you my friend!  Enjoy your weekend everyone and looking forward to the next conversation! P.S.... Vanilla extract with vanilla beans and premium vodka... OH MY!!  Sounds delightfully delicious!  Sign me up for a sample! :)

There are urban gardens, with tall plants around the outside to hide the real cash crop in the center.

Though the grocery chain stores aren't allowed to give their food away, due to a litigous society and a vigilant state, they do throw it away carefully in their plastc carrier bags so that they are not responsible if someone were to go to their dumpsters. Sadly, some must, they can still salvage the food that needs a sharp knife to cut away brown spots or outdated canned goods, etc, food that if we had it at home, we would still use.

When my daughter was going to school and lived downtown, she had to travel far to get to a supermarket. Because as mbailey pointed out, it is cost prohibitive, not to mention dangerous, for these stores to operate further in.

There are farmer's markets open just about every place in the warm weather. And yet, the fast food places are the ones of choice.

***mbaily, what did you use the vodka infused vanilla for?

Libation?  ***Just kidding.

I liked the ending of the Agri-puncture article.
 As Architects, we just need to start by letting food be our guide.                                               Isn't that what we do best here? 
 

PAOLOS! EXACTLY what I was going to say.....

ChefDeb ~ Which post? Our business is in a mixed neighborhood.  Racially, industrially and religiously.  Our building is wedged between a precision machine shop and the complex of the world's largest producer of copper wire.  The next block north is mostly residential, a few shops and several churches.  One of the newer residents, an older gent by younger standards, renovated an unused commercial building to become his home.  It is a two story building and he painted a sign that hangs over the second to read  The Other Story.  He planted a small tract at street side that runs the width of his lot and perhaps fifteen feet deep or by another measure, four corn rows.The plot is showing a variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers, but the four rows of corn at curbside dominate his urban garden. Knee high by the 4th of July is a rule of thumb in the north, but in Georgia, it can be full grown in June. He doesn't have a scarecrow but I can imagine he sits alone at night in his porch rocker, sipping on a jar of moonshine, a shotgun resting on his lap, just daring Heckle and Jeckle to show their grinning faces anywhere near his cornfield.                       

I think his name could be Spike.
It is my opinion that Saturday mornings should include at least one good cartoon viewing.                                                                                                                                                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvm22_TdnlI

I wonder if Miss Bebe is back from her extended cruise yet...Miss BEBE, fresh corn on the cob, hot off the grill, dripping with butter, real butter...MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I say, MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!  Y'all have a good rest of the day.  I am done.

PAOLOS Your 10:29.

Its definitely time for the return of mmmmmmmMiss Bebe!!!!!

ANDY vanilla infused vodka can be used in place of Vanilla Extract. It IS a kind of Vanilla Extract in fact.

As far as today's topic goes...my brain isn't really in the "on" mode as yet but a couple of random thoughts.

It might be that the palette of the American people needs to be tweaked in order to bring necessary changes. There's little interest in vegetable gardening as there is little interest in vegetables in spite of what the Food Media implies with all its fancy veg photo shoots. I have a strong belief that the popularity of fast food is more than price---a family of 4 can still eat in a menu restaurant like a diner or such for the same price as everyone getting what they want at McD's. I think that people want to know EXACTLY what they are going to eat and it is the predicitability that draws them to various chains. Just as Holiday Inn and Motel 6 provide the same reassurance with their cookie cutter motels. Yes, price is an issue but it is also the knowledge of exactly what to expect.

2nd random note. The exact same grocery list which cost $60 a year ago is now $120. Thats just wrong. I am not talking statistics, I am talking about my own personal grocery shopping. My meds have increased 50% in the past year. But my income hasn't!

Still, its gorgeous out and I am surrounded by people I love and dinner is going to be a delicious leftover fried rice dish that everyone will praise me for my cleverness for. Eat hearty everypne!!

Soy-a-lent Greeeeen is Peeee-Pullll..........AHHHHHHH (shreiking)

do ya know why cannibals don't eat clowns? they taste funny  (and special note: Cannibals don't usually eat divorced women,either- - too bitter) OK, I'm sorry....(from yesterday- I have MY Dad's sense of humor)

+ I dint get the chance to doanother of my Dad's jokes, so here goes...A guy is driving his truck down the road, stops,gets out and bangs the sides....cop,watching, stops the guy from getting back and asks "What the....", the guy says "truck full of Flamingos, six tons of "em, and it's only a 5 ton truck- - got to scare some so they fly around .."  the Cop, in disbelief, says "You'd better take these birds to the Zoo"....and when the Cop sees this same act a couple of days later, he immediately pulls the guy over, and says "I thought I told you to take these birds to the Zoo..!"  and the driver says "I did, they had a great time, and today we're going to the movies...."   .   .Thanks, Dad

RY-what did one cannibal say to the other? Come on over we're having a ball!

Sorry.

...and his joke for today's topic.....guy walks into a bar with carrots in his ears....bartender says "Why do you have carrots in your ears?"   .  guy says "WHAT?, can't hear you with these carrots in my ears..."

A cartoon I cut out of a magazine, framed and gave as a Christmas present to my local gas station owner. The picture showed two aliens attempting to engage the gas pumps in conversation, but one is saying to the the other 'Of course he can't hear you, stupid, he's got his dick in his ear' This was years ago and I still smirk when I have to put gas in the tank - and the cartoon remains in pride of place on the wall of the gas station.

Deb - Thank you -- of course it is. RY ~ have me chuckling Hazel~ I saw one with aliens landing, watching people get gas at the pump and reporting back that this race has strange sex habits.........like yours better.

Where is everybody? Way past duvet time in Wales, Nos da, dear people. x

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

I have always loved farms, even just riding past one I feel something stir deep inside, like I am experiencing my living soul, the earth that pulses within me. Nature is who and what we are, it I feel resonates in our DNA. WOW a farm in Kentucky, makes my heart flip! Blessings to you, please sit on your porch and breathe the air in for me, feast your eyes upon the indescribable beauty for me. Peace be to you.

Ah...Aloha Magic Celestial Winged One. With a click of the mouse one can discover the law of Posting Exponents. A normal anomaly in this town. Keep it up.

Where indeed is everybody?
I don't know about anyone else, Miss Hazel, but I have been lost in The Twilight Zone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGK16gDsVI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QCGYZDIN-k

Milk, bread, flour, sugar....vegetables and fruit in season....a tough cut of beef? Throw it in the crock pot ...  Sure, it's challenging to bring the grocery bill down. And if you put your mind to it, you can even have some fun.  Pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and a working woman's red wine (read: Cheap).  See how much fun one can have at a picnic in the living room when the sun goes down....turn off the electricity and light some candles...pretend you're a pilgrim, Pilgrim. ( I'm leaving before I sound anymore like John Wayne)

bebe....where are you?????? I was thinking about you today, came home this evening, read today's posts and see that I'm not the only one missing you.
 
Welcome magicangel.
 

Penn, would you add a few chunks of onion to that crock pot. I will be dreaming of pit roast tonight.

Hello Jane...... We are all missing our bebe. good to see you here!

Thank youTommy Typical, I will remember to keep my wings close to my body so they do not flap the post key over and over. :)

Hudson J, consider it done!  BEBE  BEBE  BEBE!  Where bees you?