Without getting political, we just wanted to touch on a few thoughts prompted by the food shortages that the UK is experiencing in supermarkets. They are not very original thoughts, but they reflect our values and ethos here at Rocket Gardens and, since we spend most of our days thinking about growing and eating vegetables, we wanted to take the opportunity to share!
Thought #1 – Perhaps the world is trying to nudge us towards better, more wholesome ways of feeding ourselves. It certainly has felt like that over the past few years, and with the latest food shortage news, perhaps it’s time to consider that importing tomatoes and cucumbers from other countries during the winter months isn’t the best way forwards.
Thought #2 – Are we humans entitled to eat whatever food we want, whenever we want? Why do we feel we have a right to eat tomatoes when they are not in season? What if we were a little more accepting of what the different seasons bring us? Right now, for example, we’re harvesting kale, purple sprouting broccoli, leeks, celeriac, parsnips, wild rocket, mizuna, spinach, chard and turnips. We also have, stored from the autumn harvests, lots of pumpkins and winter squash, beetroot, carrots, potatoes and onions. That’s actually quite a lot of veg, and even if it’s not homegrown, that is the kind of food that could be grown locally and supplied to UK households.
Thought #3 – How much more could we all grow at home, in our own gardens? This is a big part of what we do, because the main reason people give for not growing their own vegetables is not having the time. Growing from plug plants is a way to reduce the time needed, as you cut out the most time consuming part of raising the seedlings. If you can spare the time to dig over a couple of raised beds one weekend in spring, and pop the plugs in the ground, then actually you can grow veggies without it needing to take a huge amount of time thereafter (especially if you mulch heavily!)
Thought #4 – Growing vegetables brings a lot of joy and peace to so many people – it’s good for physical AND mental health, it’s good for our diets, good for our bank balances, and good for our gardens if we’re not using pesticides. It’s just good, and we really really hope that more and more people will start growing their own, even if it is just a few cut & come again salads in window boxes.
Thought #5 – Let’s also give thought to how much plastic packaging and transport is involved in getting those tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and salads to the UK from other countries.
Of course, there are limits, people lead their own lives with their own challenges on time, space, money, and so on. It would be idealistic to think that the whole UK will start growing their own veggies just like that, but wouldn’t it be great if there was a ripple effect from this food shortage? One that led just a few more people to start growing vegetables this year, and perhaps their neighbours might be inspired next year, and so on. Maybe it’s not all doom and gloom, but a chance to start creating new habits and changing inherent cultural values. Fingers crossed!