The beginning of a new year should be a time of reflection. How was the last year and what might the new year bring? Have you taken the time in your life to “stop and smell the roses’ and enjoy the really important parts of life? What if we lived as our grandparents or great-grandparents and spent our days growing food and living a simpler life? We would be closer to our roots and maybe happier?
If you are a gardener in a colder climate who continues to garden inside, perhaps you are closer to “living the dream” as you are definitely more immersed in horticulture. The wonder of a flower opening, a seed sprouting or dead twigs miraculously sprouting green leaves is a daily occurrence if you surround yourself with growing. But just think, what if everyone had this opportunity to live with the glory of growing plants? Would we cure world hunger? Could we achieve world-wide harmony?
There is a growing trend of people wishing to grow their own food and to make our world a more sustainable place to live. Governments, businesses and societies together with the United Nations have begun to mobilize efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030. This universal, inclusive and indivisible agenda calls for action by all countries to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Goal number two of this agenda is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. If you are reading this article, then this is your call to take action. It doesn’t matter how small your effort is, it will make a difference. Spring is not far off. It is already evident the days are getting longer. It will not be too long until we can once again putter in the garden. Perhaps it is time to start thinking about what you should grow this spring and if there is anyone you can take along on your journey.
It is a good idea to grow food to share with those who are less fortunate. If you have an area that is not doing anything but growing weeds, then why not change the landscape and grow food in that area? It is amazing how a small bit of land can lead to the harvest of substantial food. For example, a group of us harvested around 1,000 pounds of food grown on a boulevard a few years ago. We grew corn, potatoes and onions, enjoyed a corn roast and donated the rest of the produce to the Friendship Inn. They graciously accepted our gift and many people who are less fortunate enjoyed a number of tasty and nutritious meals as a result of our labours.
Watch the Orchid Horticulture website and Facebook page for upcoming opportunities and workshops. If you are stumped on what you might do to help us reach goal number two, get in touch and we can work together. We hope this article hasyou excited about growing food and living more sustainably with everything you do.
Hanbidge is the lead horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at info@orchidhort.com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.
