Thistle’s Recent Comments

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  Sir Albert Howard

  A battered copy of 'An Agricultural Testament' found in a used book store some 30 years ago is what got me started composting and growing things organically. It's right there on my bookshelf next to Schumacher, J.I. and my favorite trinity:  Wendell, Wes and Gene.  

  I didn't know U of K had reprinted The Soil and Health - thanks for the tip.

  What has always delighted me about this subject is its simplicity, and complete and utter sensibility.  It just makes sense, and it isn't at all difficult, to feed and build the soil by re-using available plant matter and animal manure, speeding the decomposition process so as to have what amounts to a local fertilizer factory.  As a backyard composter, I am able to generate several tons of beautiful soil a year in my tiny suburban yard using the abundance of prunings and clippings generated on the property.  My neighbors export all their plant waste to the curbside collection program, which isn't necessarily all bad, but it is a resource outflow... and returns nothing of food value to them.  My compost helps me grow a year-round supply of vegetables and fruit in season.  And I don't need to take an extension course to learn how to make it - I learned from the master himself.On Reviving a much-cited, little-read sustainable-ag masterpiece posted 2 years, 7 months ago 5 Responses

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  cities need local food, too

  I am sorry to have to answer the survey thusly:

  a, b, a, c, b

  How I wish we had the mindset and support structure found up in central and northern California!

  Farmers markets in the San Diego area do offer local produce, although not all of it is either local or sustainably farmed, so you have to ask first.  I found one and only one CSA farm that made deliveries to the city, from 80 miles north.  Subscribed to them for a year until we bought a house with a small yard and I was able to start gardening.  Now I grow all my own organic vegetables in containers in the backyard, and have a mini orchard of low-chill semi-dwarf fruit trees (apple, plums, nectarines, pear) in the front, where the sun is the best.

  A few years back there was a local farmer who raised pastured poultry for sale in the local quasi-health food market, but he's gone out of business.  Now that market sells an "organic" chicken shipped in from Nebraska.  I'm still searching for a local source of grass-fed meats and eggs.

  I always ask "where does this come from?" at the supermarkets, and nearly always receive a blank stare in return.  There doesn't appear to be a "buy local" movement here at all.

  This issue is close to my heart, however, as I feel very strongly that cities can and should be growing their own fresh food in available space within city limits.  What's missing is organization and entrepreneur support.  Check out spinfarming.com - they have the right idea!On Not your father's backyard garden posted 2 years, 7 months ago 5 Responses

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  'clunky' writer, brilliant farmer

  So true - I've got Salatin's "Salad Bar Beef" and it's chock-full of great info on setting up a farm to raise grass-fed livestock, but it isn't a pleasurable read at all.  However, I was delighted to stumble on a marvelous, well-written description of Salatin's Polyface Farm in Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dillema" - it is the basis of the entire second section of the book, on Pastoral, or grass-based food - which I think showcases Joel's brilliance far better than the man can himself.  I appreciated the view of this extraordinary venture through Michael's eyes and prose. On Sustainable-ag legend Joel Salatin can farm -- but can he write? posted 2 years, 7 months ago 2 Responses