The Hunger Gap: Part II

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How Do I Solve The Hunger Gap For My Family?

In PART I, Here I discuss what is The Hunger Gap, and what it means for me, and my growing, gardening, and sustainability. Here, in *Part II I want to talk about How much it takes to grow, to feed a typical person. now, much of this will be an AVERAGE. You personally need to adjust to fit your own food tastes, where you live, and what you prefer to grow and eat. I did for my list!

How Many Plants Per Person Should I Sow, To Feed My Family?

As mentioned above, IT DEPENDS
Bit of a Cop Out isn't it?
Anyone, enough of the disclaimers, let's get to it.
First, the fine print
I've been reading on the subject and making notes for a few months now. This is combined from MANY sources: The Farmer's Almanac, The USDA, Many online gardener's mentioned here in my video about Most Influential Gardeners on YouTube! I prefer getting my Data from a few sources, rather than rely on any ONE single source. Red Gardens (above youtube link), The Farmer's Almanac, and USDA are good guides. I adjusted, based on our personal interests, and eating habits.


...but we live in the North?

Another major factor I need to consider when thinking about this Hunger Gap issue, is what can I realistically grow? Or, how can I solve the WINTER COLD?

Do I need to drastically change my diet? Can I grow more indoors? Should I seriously consider a Green house? Doesn't a greenhouse add a month early spring and add a month, later fall? I believe, eventually, I will add a greenhouse, to grow for a longer season. It's just not in the cards, right now. $$$ mainly.


... but can't I just go shopping at the market to get food?

If I learned anything from the Pandemic, CoVid, and Global Supply Chain Shortages, it is that I need to be more self-sufficient. Period. I trust the world. I trust everyone. But. NO.

I want to ensure my family is fed. With Healthy food. AND Growing it myself means ensuring it is NOT going to have a huge Carbon Footprint. Buying food that doesn't naturally grow near me in my winter

As a Photographer, of , means someone far away is growing it, and shipping it via trains, boats and trucks, and those all impact the world, the environment, and the animals and birds near me. As a Photographer, of wildlife, and Nature, I see it first hand. Don't comment, and don't be an ass and deny reality.


...but enough of the whining, get to what we want: HOW MANY PLANTS PER PERSON!


My list, adjusted by me, for my family. Will I plant all these? No, simply not enough space and time. YET. Will I eventually? my goal is, yes, I want to be self sufficient on most all vegetables, and then, tackle growing more fruit. last, I need to address Protein. Yeah... that. I am an omnivore. I love vegetarians. They're very tasty.

So, here's what I am thinking in terms of my PLANTS Per Person:

no. PlantsPlantgrow now: ✔ grow enough: ✔✔✔Notes
5-10AsparagusnoIt takes 2 to 3 years before harvest but can last up to a decade
10-15Beansstarting this yearPlant successive crops every two weeks for a continuous harvest; great for canning, freezing
1-5Brussels SproutsWe lov 'em, but struggle to grow 'em: This is my YEAR!
10-30Carrot✔✔✔ at least 30 per!I a going to start freeze drying, to save more of the harvest
1-2Celery✔✔✔I grow all winter, indoors and save seeds
10-12CornnoNot enough space, now
1-6CucumberCurrently 3-4 plants, and am pickling them for winter saving:
1-3EggplantNew to me, this year
12-16Garlic✔✔✔I use a lot, so, we need to plant more. Fall planting, saves very well
4-10Lettuce✔✔✔I already succession plant, and grow over winter indoors:
6-25Onion✔✔✔I grow enough... wait, I need MORE! Stores great:
15-30PeasI need to plant many more, and also, succession plant
1-5Peppers✔✔✔I am adding about 2 plants per person to my garden to get to success. NEED to solve saving for overwinter
4-6PotatoI have two harvest of about 12 plants, which is close. I am adding two more per person, per harvest. I will need to solve longer storage Overwinter.
4-12Spinach✔✔✔I grow over winter indoors
1-3SquashAdding 2 new varieties, hope to Save for Winter
1-5Tomato✔✔✔We grow about 20 per person, and give away a LOT. Cherries: Grow one per person; slicing: grow one to two per person; paste: grow three to four per person
1-3ZucchiniFlowers are also edible. Need to solve Overwintering
1/4 AcreWheatnoNot enough space. I guess there are substitutes, for making bread. That could be an option as well?

... but what's next?

Ok, I can start by growing a bit more each season. I can also fairly easily add some indoor growing: Lettuces, Spinachs, Arugula, Herbs.

BUT, can I grow larger veggies indoors? Pepper? Tomato? Cucumber? I am trying an experiment with 6 Tomato I planted 2 months early. I want to see what will happen? Can I get fruit indoors? How much earlier than typical outdoor growing? Each month cuts down on The Hunger Gap.

... but what's Long Term?

GREENHOUSE
Ideally, long term is a Greenhouse I can grow some food in Year Round. Failing Year Round, I can at the very least extend my growing season. This will take more money, and more time. BUT, I need to get there.

FRUIT
I spent the day, pruning my raspberries. Close enough to me are blueberries growing wild, that I pick, for fresh food, for freezing, and for making Blueberry jelly. I also pick Beach Plum for making Jelly. I want to eventually add a couple pear trees, and a couple of apple trees. PERHAPS, a peach tree? I know this season I will be growing strawberries, for Fresh, For Making Jelly, and for freezing.

At some point I need to begin growing my own grapes, and blueberries here. There are empty wine bottles that are lonely. I last made wine 30 plus years ago.

PROTEIN
The easiest and fastest way to add Protein to self sufficiency, is raising chickens. Fresh EGGS, and the chicken meat are a solution. Of course, that means a BIG commitment.

Some also raise Pigs, but I am not at all interested in THAT level of commitment to Sustainability and Homesteading.

More Protein?
As a kid, I grew up hunting with my dad, and that's certainly one choice. I haven't been out in years, but it is an option, around here. Turkey, Rabbit, and Deer are the usual, bear and moose are not unheard of. I am not ready for that time, and energy yet.

Faster Protein
I live nearby to an ocean. I own a boat. It turns out, protein is all over! There's sea life in abundance! I can put my lobster pots back into the bay. Collecting these weekly, cooking then freezing will give me some available protein all winter. Catching, cooking, and freezing fish, too will solve more of the issue. Shellfish, like the abundant Mussels, Sea Clams, Cherrystones, and Quahogs are another solution. Collecting shellfish and making and freezing clam chowder, and stews is a solution and an easy to do step.

Wheat?
We make our own bread on occasion. Making more from scratch is a good idea. Even better, is growing Wheat for flour. The yield per acre of wheat is about 50 bushels. Each Bushel of Wheat is about 60 pounds, which translates into about 3000 pounds of wheat grain. Per Acre. Right now, we do not have the space for that kind of growing and sowing. but, we need to address it.



The Hunger Gap is both real and a problem. More and more people are turning to homesteading and finding a way to be more Self Sufficient. I am one of them, and hope that it will solve at least SOME of the issues...I am getting there. But not quite there yet. Maybe 1/3 of the way for my own family of 4.

Meanwhile, the biggest issue, is, I need to solve planting for THIS:

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Maybe if I plant enough of these, I will not encounter any more toilet paper shortages, in my lifetime.?



If you follow me, you know I prefer to grow my own food for my family and friends. You probably also know, my love language seems to be serving. For my family and friends, that means, cooking and serving them healthy, locally grown food, whenever and wherever I can. Local food has a much lower impact on our local, national, and global environment.

And that makes me smile... better for the planet, better for my own family.


Show me your garden!
Leave me a comment, below...
and a link to your #GroVid22 garden!

It's time to take control of your own food supply,
your own health and your own lives.

The GroVid23 Challenge:
Grow Your OWN is not just a simple short challenge,
it's about taking control of your future!

Happy Gardening and Cheers,
BluefinStudios

All Images by Bluefin Studios unless specified.





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23 comments
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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 148 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
!BEER
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Great read. As I read this I was seeing a partial underground greenhouse with maybe five feet of an above ground (semi) building. As far as growing toilet paper, check out these two videos for some ideas.
No toilet paper? No problem.
Cloth as a toilet paper replacer.

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very intrigued by that greenhouse, partially submerged!

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I think having a dirt greenhouse with some sort of protective see through covering (preferably not plastic) that let's the sun shine in would prolong the growing season. I can see it in my head and have seen similar on Google images but I'm not sure I can explain it in words.

I also think it would be a he££uva conversation piece. 😁😁

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I think I shall be trying chickpeas this year. Kind of possible to grind into some kind of flour.

Otherwise, potatoes are great as nutrition and an idea I got from a video on the nets was...sunflowers. Will try from seeds.

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you know, I never thought of chickpeas. They do make a flour. Good point. I will consider that, and probably go there, next season. THANKS!

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You're welcome! I am happy to share the idea. I already have a few packs of seeds but I have never tried that. The problem is, my garden is a bit away from me And I need more spare time to actually work it. For now...

!BEER

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I am simply amazed, what a level of organization and purpose, my mother would have been fascinated to read your list, she always wanted to plant not only ornamental plants or flowers, her goal was to plant to be less dependent on the market, and in the end eat healthier less contaminated food, because as you wisely pointed out COVID reminded us that this world is not stable and everything can change in a minute.

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I think I got some oif this from my own mom, and grandfather.

BTW, we have a substantial garden, for ornamentals, too.
Including some wonderful flowers. I recently planted seeds for Nasturtium, Marigolds, Coneflower, and more. We have BEE BALM going in soon. as well quite a few others.

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That toilet paper core is a hybrid I think. I don't think you can replant it 😂 I have considered many of the things in your post. I go back and forth on chickens all the time. I think I will do some corn this year. A green house can be done inexpensively with a frame and plastic but I would want something more substantial. Fun post 👍

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Ahhhh. I will have to see if I can save an heirloom TP roll.

I have a metal frame from an old carport, but I need to really think that, since we do get some winds, here.

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This is quite informative. Best of luck with your crops. I would love to have the space to grow a good portion of the food I eat, unfortunately, I don't have it.

But if you ever come up with the formula to grow toilet paper, you'll be golden, LOL.

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But if you ever come up with the formula to grow toilet paper, you'll be golden,

There's a really bad joke in there, that, I shall skip

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Impressive data and a lot to respond to. Lets do these:

If I learned anything from the Pandemic, CoVid, and Global Supply Chain Shortages, it is that I need to be more self-sufficient.

This is so true, which is why planning how to handle the hunger gap is perfectly great, but depending on shopping for foodstuffs should not be the main strategy.

I can also fairly easily add some indoor growing

I think that would be nice, considering that you live where the winter temperatures would not be ideal for outdoor farming.

I do admire the long term planning. Trues, everything wont be planted at once, but gradually its possible. A lot of people would scuff at that idea anyway.

I invited you to share your thoughts bit by bit on Threads. Threads is like Twitter, a place for short content. On threads you have fun, grow new audience, and enjoy more engagement. If you use #hivegarden on your Threads, Hive Garden community on threads will find it and support you.

Check threads here: https://alpha.leofinance.io/threads

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I wish TP would grow lol

Loving the garden content and I often miss it because I haven't seen it on threads yet until today. Be sure to check out the mention of your post on LeoThreads and drop us some other pictures. Also Hive garden does a lot of great curation on there as well @bluefinstudios

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Copy of #hivegarden.gif

Your post has been chosen for the next edition of 'The Garden Shed', a collection of archived posts by @gardenhive that feature gardening advice, DIY tips, homesteading tips and inspiring gardens. You can find previous posts by browsing our Collection via @gardenhive over at Peakd.com.

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Well... Well... Toilet tissue? hehe. We can use that in planting! ^_^ You have a nice place to plant.

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