Subversive Potatoes

Social

ninjafaery

Posted on: 02/24/2012 18:53

I have just read with horror that the idea of slapping gst on food is being seriously considered by two Canadian economists.

I was originally going to post this in Politics, but since I'm really just looking for advice from anyone else who's tried growing veggies under less-than-ideal conditions, I thought "social" would be appropo.

Here's what makes it political:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/02/24/gst-food-economists.html

Ok -- presuming that any of the taxes collected benefit social programmes, perhaps I get taxing high-end snooty olive oil and gourmet organic raw chocolate -- but VEGETABLES?

I think not.

It then becomes my political duty to grow as much food on my apartment patio as possible. I'm planning to try potatoes in a barrel, greens of all types, culinary and tea herbs, tomatoes etc. Given that all I have is a really small (about 7'x3') shady patio riddled with sow bugs and slugs, this is quite ambitious. I'm going to have to garden "up" on shelves or hangers where the light is.

Changing the world one potato at a time!

http://www.cityfarmer.info/category/canada/

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Comments

carolla

Posted on: 02/24/2012 18:56

good for you ninja! we may have to change your name to ninjafarmer!

I saw a piece recently about students at McGill University who had taken over all kinds of green space on campus to grow food. Some of it was in barrels too, with vines growing up walls etc. Then they are harvesting the food, using some for a meals on wheels programme they run - so many young people so actively involved - it was great!

But I digress - I agree - NO tax on healthy food!!

Elanorgold

Posted on: 02/24/2012 22:06

Good luck Ninj! Maybe mirrors to reflect more light in?

carolla

Posted on: 02/24/2012 23:02

HEre's a link to theMcGill Project - Looks like it's been going on for quite a few years http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/39/18/ediblecampus/

There are a couple of other good links at the end of it on urban gardening ...

kaythecurler

Posted on: 02/25/2012 08:51

Last summer I was walking around the neighborhood and realised that things had really changed over the years we have lived here. In the 70's almost every back yard had a flourishing (or struggling) vegetable patch. Grass was grass.

Now there are hardly any vegetable patches and gras is chemical laden, frequently waterd lawn.

Tabitha

Posted on: 02/25/2012 12:09

I always felt subversive garening in Edmonton. Due to a quirk in lot size the city actually owned my front lawn where my raised beds were locate.

In WW@ "Victory gardens" were big in both Canada and USA with everyone doing their bit to grow food.

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