E-Mail 'Key Elements for Self-Sufficient Gardening - Part 1, by B. C.' To A Friend

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1. 1) Archaelogy suggests that growing food in North America with primitive methods is a losing proposition. Native Americans entered North America at least by 12,000 BC (some think much earlier) yet our short growing seasons never allowed civilizations to arise here as they did in lower latitudes — e.g in central /south America and in Eurasia. Even the Mississippian Culture was several thousands years behind. No iron working, not even bronze — still in the stone age. A large food surplus is needed to support specialists and thinkers.

   2) Of course, food was grown in the colonial period and later — but with the aid of numerous horses. Both for plowing and for manure fertilizer. But how many of those are left — how many survivalists have horses? Without them, only flood plains are sustainable in the long run –which means only enough food for a very small fraction of our existing population. Tribal bands, not city states. What kind of science and writing did the Iroquis have?

   3) And with the depletion of our oil, coal and iron ores deposits, those tribal bands would never be able to reach our present level.

2. On heating,
   A friend of mine ran a few loops of hydronic tube under the tables in his greenhouse, has it connected to an old gas water heater, in a continuous loop and he keeps it set low, it is just enough to keep the plants from freezing when its real cold, and more than enough to enhance germination when it warms up before spring,
   Just an idea, seems to work well

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