Food

[pkveazey]

Well, its a real burden to always be right. I knew the next thing the news media would BRIEFLY mention would be food shortages. I predicted that would be the next thing to happen due to the economic collapse. I've been saving up to have my side and back porches replaced and then buy a medium size solar power setup. Now, I think I'll have to give more consideration to adding to my food storage. After that, I'll see if I can replace those old steps.

[JoJo]

 I've already warned my family and friends to stock up on food.
 I can't get out to increase my stock but I should do fine.

[gadget99]

Good topic......

Here in the UK almost half of what people have been used to buying in the grocery stores were imported. Most of it being fruit, vegetables and staples. This supply chain was already going to face a pinch due to Brexit.

A positive coincidence is that in the last 12 months. The suppliers had been stockpiling these imports here in the UK with the intent of weathering the uncertainty of the Brexit transition.

So with the Pandemic. The supply chain had the extra capacity to provide a pretty well in recent weeks.

Now this of course does not deal with the coming future. The farmers here have changed a few things and are doing well providing to the supply chain.

There are two factors that are potentially going to cause difficulties.

1. The imports into the food chain are going to dry up for the foreseeable future. This will cause a more limited selection of what is available and shortages.
2. The agricultural industry relies hugely of migrant workers from eastern europe during harvest time. Brexit was going to cause problems with that. So most went back home to stay after the last season. Now with the Pandemic. The farmers cannot get enough people to do the work needed. So this is going to lessen the output of the harvest this year.

Due to these two things. The likelihood of food shortages here in the UK is pretty certain.

Unfortunately people are not thinking ahead on this. So instead of there being a drive to plant as many gardens as possible. There is no action.

I foresee significant food shortages this coming winter. Then hopefully next spring people will get off the pot and plant gardens.

We as a family are growing out food stocks whenever possible to create a buffer for if times get lean.

Cheers

[JohnyMac]

Interesting thread. Thx for starting it PK.

Wuhan Victory Garden's are a must for all of us.

I am in the process of writing an article about this.

[patriotman]

Interesting thread. Thx for starting it PK.

Wuhan Victory Garden's are a must for all of us.

I am in the process of writing an article about this.

One of our priorities after we close on this house is a bunch of raised beds for planting!

[mechmedic]

We are getting ready to start on our garden as well. Dollar Tree has seeds for $0.25 a packet.

[Jackalope]

   We have lots of plants growing in our greenhouse.  We have 6 raised beds, of which three have crops already growing.  Garlic should be ready to harvest in another 3-4 weeks.  We have 4 gardens tilled and ready for planting, we're just waiting on warmer weather.  One of gardens will be dedicated just for potatoes.  Another garden will be for long storage crops for our chickens.  So we're in pretty good shape, but like all agriculture, we'll be dependent upon the weather.  I wish we had a milk cow though, I love milk with my breakfast.

[JohnyMac]

MechMedic,
Make sure those seeds are heirloom seeds. DO NOT buy hybrid seeds.

Check out  https://www.rareseeds.com/requestcat/catalog. There are others out there however this company is what I use.

[JoJo]

MechMedic,
Make sure those seeds are heirloom seeds. DO NOT buy hybrid seeds.

Check out  https://www.rareseeds.com/requestcat/catalog. There are others out there however this company is what I use.

 Their closed for the virus. Lets hope the shut down ends soon.

[pkveazey]

Yep JohnyMac is right about the Hybrid seeds. Heirloom seeds grow food that you can save the seeds from the crop and replant them year after year. Hybrid seeds are not supposed to able to be harvested and replanted for next year's crop. The truth is that if you harvest the seeds from hybrid crops and replant them, only a few out of a hundred will qerminate and grow. If you've got about 50 years to spend reusing last years hybrid crop seeds and then only reuse the 1 or 2% that might germinate and then reuse those that did germinate you might get them to mutate back to non hybrid. I'm pretty sure it isn't worth the time and effort. Then, there is always the chance that not even 1 % would germinate. I have both types of seeds and plan to never plant a garden unless I have to and if I do, I'll use the Hybrid seeds first and when they run out, I'll start planting the non-hybrid seeds. Why don't I want to plant a garden? Hell, I grew up on a farm and its a pain in the ass to tend the crop and keep those damn wild animals from eating your crop.

[JohnyMac]

JoJo. I can not speak about now concerning Baker Rare seeds however I got a shipment from them early March. I pray they are doing okay. They are good folks.

I was in Tractor Supply about 10-days ago and they had heirloom seeds for sale up near the register.