Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Grass grows without tending and can be harvested repeatedly without disturbing the roots making it an efficient renewable source. These qualities have made grass a reliable source of fuel (and building material) for centuries in Europe where it was first cut (the "auld sod" of Ireland), then burned in little stoves or fireplaces for heat. Dr. Jerry Cherney, a member of the agriculture faculty at Cornell University, advocates harnessing this energy source in the U.S. by drying and compressing ("pelletizing") grass into chunks and burning it like coal. Grass pellets, according to Dr. Cherney, would create 90 percent fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. As anyone who's turned a compost heap knows, grass and other decomposing plants generate a lot of heat as their glucose breaks down the fibers of the plants. By pelletizing the grass in local processing facilities, that energy could be concentrated for use in combustion furnaces, providing a clean fuel.
Monday, July 27, 2009
THE ALGAE SOLUTION
"Put quite simply, microalgae are remarkable and efficient biological factories capable of taking a waste (zero-energy) form of carbon (CO2) and converting it into a high density liquid form of energy (natural oil)."
-A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Algae are the least publicized source of biofuel feedstock yet may hold the greatest potential for simultaneously tackling the problems of our worldwide dependence on fossil fuels and limiting CO2 emissions linked to global climate change. It can produce substantially greater oil per acre than traditional oil seeds and also cut the level of CO2 as algae consumes it while emitting clean oxygen. Algae can grow in places other than on farmlands or other arable land. Many strains of algae can grow optimally using brackish water, sea water, or waste water. The economics of such a plant and process are driven by the high potential solar energy conversion efficiencies of single celled algae versus crop plants on a per acre, per day basis. For these reasons and others, microalgae have many advantages over terrestrial plants in addressing two of the world’s major challenges: energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY SECURITY:
ALGAE ARE VERY EFFICIENT PRODUCERS OF BIODIESEL FEEDSTOCK -- OIL
Fossil Fuel PumpGiven the right conditions, algae can double its volume overnight. Microalgae are the earth’s most productive plants –– 10 to 15 times more prolific in biomass than the fastest growing land plant exploited for biofuel production. While soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons, algae can produce up to 15,000 gallons per acre per year. In addition, up to 50 percent (or more) of algae biomass (dry weight) is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees—currently the most efficient large-scale source of feedstock oil to make biofuels—yield approximately 20 percent of their weight in oil.
Algae oil can easily be converted to biofuels such as biodiesel through the same technology used with oil from oil seeds transesterification -- which is currently used to convert vegetable oil to biodiesel. In addition, the algae oil can be hydro-treated to produce other fuels such as JP-8 and other jet fuels.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
MICROALGAE SEQUESTER POTENTIALLY HARMFUL C02 EMISSIONS
Earth View from SpaceMicroalgae naturally sequester CO2 from the atmosphere; however to support the rapid growth needs of an algae farm, additional amounts of CO2 are necessary. The solution: capture CO2 emitted from industrial sources, such power plants, cement plants, and ethanol factories, that would have otherwise been a source of environmental pollution. Thus, a potential source of global warming is converted to a source of clean burning feedstock for biofuels.
In addition, all other methods used for CO2 mitigation only sequester CO2; they do not convert it into useful products or energy, making microalgae to method of choice to combat climate change.
COMPETITIVE WITH FOSSIL FUEL
Algae-to-oil is projected to be competitive with petroleum-based crude oil. Based on extrapolations from our pilot production facility, algae oil is projected to be produced at around US$50-$90 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe), which is significantly below current crude oil prices. Longer term, with further increases in algae productivity, algae-to-oil production cost is expected to fall to around US$30-$50 per boe, a cost far below any other biofuels feedstock crop and which is significantly lower than projected for most oil & gas production facilities now under development.
It is projected that, over the long-term, algae oil can compete with fossil fuels with or without government mandates or subsidies afforded to alternative energy solutions. However, government mandates and assistance and incentive programs (e.g., R&D support, tax credits, loan guarantees for the construction of commercial facilities) can significantly accelerate the initial commercialization of this technology and ensure a more rapid adoption throughout the United States and other parts of the industrialized world.
SUMMARY MARINE MICROALGAE ADVANTAGES
* Carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from power plants, refineries, cement plants, etc. provide high growth rates for algae, thus converting atmospheric pollutants to biofuel and other valuable commodity products
* Cultivation can be accomplished in waste land areas which preserves valuable farmlands for food production
* Transportation costs of feedstock can be reduced or eliminated, which costs are a major economical concern for terrestrially grown biomass
* Marine microalgae use brackish water or salt water to grow which preserves valuable fresh water sources
* Processing is simplified because of microalgae’s small grain size and lack of lignocellulose; found in all land-based biomass sources, lignocellulose greatly complicates the biomass-to-biofuel conversion process
* Microalgae are suitable for production processes ranging from entrained flow gasification to direct transesterification
* No harmful waste products result from microalgae production
* Marine microalgae can produce feedstocks to make a variety of biofuels and petrochemical replacement products
* The byproducts of the cultivation process include protein and carbohydrates that can be used as an animal nutritional supplemental
"Put quite simply, microalgae are remarkable and efficient biological factories capable of taking a waste (zero-energy) form of carbon (CO2) and converting it into a high density liquid form of energy (natural oil)."
-A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Algae are the least publicized source of biofuel feedstock yet may hold the greatest potential for simultaneously tackling the problems of our worldwide dependence on fossil fuels and limiting CO2 emissions linked to global climate change. It can produce substantially greater oil per acre than traditional oil seeds and also cut the level of CO2 as algae consumes it while emitting clean oxygen. Algae can grow in places other than on farmlands or other arable land. Many strains of algae can grow optimally using brackish water, sea water, or waste water. The economics of such a plant and process are driven by the high potential solar energy conversion efficiencies of single celled algae versus crop plants on a per acre, per day basis. For these reasons and others, microalgae have many advantages over terrestrial plants in addressing two of the world’s major challenges: energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY SECURITY:
ALGAE ARE VERY EFFICIENT PRODUCERS OF BIODIESEL FEEDSTOCK -- OIL
Fossil Fuel PumpGiven the right conditions, algae can double its volume overnight. Microalgae are the earth’s most productive plants –– 10 to 15 times more prolific in biomass than the fastest growing land plant exploited for biofuel production. While soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons, algae can produce up to 15,000 gallons per acre per year. In addition, up to 50 percent (or more) of algae biomass (dry weight) is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees—currently the most efficient large-scale source of feedstock oil to make biofuels—yield approximately 20 percent of their weight in oil.
Algae oil can easily be converted to biofuels such as biodiesel through the same technology used with oil from oil seeds transesterification -- which is currently used to convert vegetable oil to biodiesel. In addition, the algae oil can be hydro-treated to produce other fuels such as JP-8 and other jet fuels.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
MICROALGAE SEQUESTER POTENTIALLY HARMFUL C02 EMISSIONS
Earth View from SpaceMicroalgae naturally sequester CO2 from the atmosphere; however to support the rapid growth needs of an algae farm, additional amounts of CO2 are necessary. The solution: capture CO2 emitted from industrial sources, such power plants, cement plants, and ethanol factories, that would have otherwise been a source of environmental pollution. Thus, a potential source of global warming is converted to a source of clean burning feedstock for biofuels.
In addition, all other methods used for CO2 mitigation only sequester CO2; they do not convert it into useful products or energy, making microalgae to method of choice to combat climate change.
COMPETITIVE WITH FOSSIL FUEL
Algae-to-oil is projected to be competitive with petroleum-based crude oil. Based on extrapolations from our pilot production facility, algae oil is projected to be produced at around US$50-$90 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe), which is significantly below current crude oil prices. Longer term, with further increases in algae productivity, algae-to-oil production cost is expected to fall to around US$30-$50 per boe, a cost far below any other biofuels feedstock crop and which is significantly lower than projected for most oil & gas production facilities now under development.
It is projected that, over the long-term, algae oil can compete with fossil fuels with or without government mandates or subsidies afforded to alternative energy solutions. However, government mandates and assistance and incentive programs (e.g., R&D support, tax credits, loan guarantees for the construction of commercial facilities) can significantly accelerate the initial commercialization of this technology and ensure a more rapid adoption throughout the United States and other parts of the industrialized world.
SUMMARY MARINE MICROALGAE ADVANTAGES
* Carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from power plants, refineries, cement plants, etc. provide high growth rates for algae, thus converting atmospheric pollutants to biofuel and other valuable commodity products
* Cultivation can be accomplished in waste land areas which preserves valuable farmlands for food production
* Transportation costs of feedstock can be reduced or eliminated, which costs are a major economical concern for terrestrially grown biomass
* Marine microalgae use brackish water or salt water to grow which preserves valuable fresh water sources
* Processing is simplified because of microalgae’s small grain size and lack of lignocellulose; found in all land-based biomass sources, lignocellulose greatly complicates the biomass-to-biofuel conversion process
* Microalgae are suitable for production processes ranging from entrained flow gasification to direct transesterification
* No harmful waste products result from microalgae production
* Marine microalgae can produce feedstocks to make a variety of biofuels and petrochemical replacement products
* The byproducts of the cultivation process include protein and carbohydrates that can be used as an animal nutritional supplemental
ht market skeptics
1) Virtually every country in the world is facing double digits declines in food production (for more info, see Terrible Outlook For 2009 Global Wheat Output and World Still Facing A Global Food Crisis and *****Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production*****).
2) World (and US) food stocks are at multi-decade lows.
3) Global demand for agricultural commodities is rising, lead by China.
1) Virtually every country in the world is facing double digits declines in food production (for more info, see Terrible Outlook For 2009 Global Wheat Output and World Still Facing A Global Food Crisis and *****Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production*****).
2) World (and US) food stocks are at multi-decade lows.
3) Global demand for agricultural commodities is rising, lead by China.
Friday, July 24, 2009
ht market skeptics
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
US Gov't out of wheat. Completely.
Government Holdings of Wheat are at Zero
By Benjamin Gisin
IDAHO FALLS, ID - Quietly, the last of the U.S. government's wheat reserves, held in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, were sold in late May onto the domestic market for cash. The cash was put in a trust for food aid. With no other government wheat holdings, U.S. government wheat stocks are now totally exhausted.
The following recent statements by Rebecca Bratter, director of policy for U.S. Wheat Associates, provides insights:
"While U.S. wheat industry strongly supports the administration's goal of maintaining current food aid programs to prevent rampant hunger worldwide, there is concern regarding the impact of selling reserve wheat on the domestic market and over the lack of commitment from the administration to replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. U.S. Wheat Associates has shared these concerns with high officials at USDA and on the President's staff and has asked about the Administration's intent regarding replenishment of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
Staff from the office of the President's Special Agricultural Assistant noted that while there is no commitment at this time, the administration intends to replenish the Trust once the supply and price scenario stabilizes." (Note: U.S. Wheat Associates works in 90 countries promoting U.S. wheat exports.)
The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust was established in 1980 by an act of Congress and is authorized to hold up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum and rice as a reserve for global food crises. The wheat is purchased and managed by the Commodity Credit Corporation and included in the total amount of wheat owned and held by the U.S. government. Holdings by the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust for corn, sorghum and rice are also zero.
For the decade of the '80s, government wheat holdings (including those in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust) averaged 358 million bushels. For the decade of the '90s, government wheat holdings averaged 133 million bushels. Since 2000, government wheat holdings dropped steadily until recently when the last of the government-owned wheat was sold.
With no formal plan for wheat stocks by the U.S. government, wheat stocks have defaulted to the arena of the private free-market sector. Unfortunately, the private sector has no plans for any kind of minimum wheat stocks that would protect from a price and/or availability standpoint the American public.
Private wheat stocks are divided into two major categories — on-farm wheat stocks owned by farmers and off-farm wheat stocks owned by warehouses and grain companies. These two together held 305.6 million bushels of wheat as of June 1 — or roughly 1 bushel per person living in the United States — the lowest level in 60 years.
Of these stocks, on-farm wheat stocks are at 25.6 million bushels, the lowest level of on-farm wheat stocks since the USDA started keeping tabs back in 1934. So as you are driving in rural America before wheat harvest, the farmer's bins have never been so empty.
The USDA, projects America to have a bumper wheat crop in 2008 — producing 2.43 billion bushels and consuming and exporting 2.30 billion bushels. This leaves a meager 133 million bushels (5.5 percent of production) as a margin for error. Globally, the USDA projects wheat production to be 24.36 billion bushels, consumption to be 23.74 billion bushels for a relatively smaller margin of 622 million bushels or 2.6 percent of production.
The recent wheat crises in America was sparked by the nation exporting more wheat than it produced. This means the true 2008 wheat margin for Americans is really the global margin of 2.6 percent. Any decline from global projections could precipitate greater wheat exports from America and further draw down already low domestic and global wheat stocks.
Food security is emerging as a global focal point. With the U.S. government and the private sector lacking visions for stocks, food security is poised to grow as a grass-roots issue around the nation.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
US Gov't out of wheat. Completely.
Government Holdings of Wheat are at Zero
By Benjamin Gisin
IDAHO FALLS, ID - Quietly, the last of the U.S. government's wheat reserves, held in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, were sold in late May onto the domestic market for cash. The cash was put in a trust for food aid. With no other government wheat holdings, U.S. government wheat stocks are now totally exhausted.
The following recent statements by Rebecca Bratter, director of policy for U.S. Wheat Associates, provides insights:
"While U.S. wheat industry strongly supports the administration's goal of maintaining current food aid programs to prevent rampant hunger worldwide, there is concern regarding the impact of selling reserve wheat on the domestic market and over the lack of commitment from the administration to replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. U.S. Wheat Associates has shared these concerns with high officials at USDA and on the President's staff and has asked about the Administration's intent regarding replenishment of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
Staff from the office of the President's Special Agricultural Assistant noted that while there is no commitment at this time, the administration intends to replenish the Trust once the supply and price scenario stabilizes." (Note: U.S. Wheat Associates works in 90 countries promoting U.S. wheat exports.)
The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust was established in 1980 by an act of Congress and is authorized to hold up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum and rice as a reserve for global food crises. The wheat is purchased and managed by the Commodity Credit Corporation and included in the total amount of wheat owned and held by the U.S. government. Holdings by the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust for corn, sorghum and rice are also zero.
For the decade of the '80s, government wheat holdings (including those in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust) averaged 358 million bushels. For the decade of the '90s, government wheat holdings averaged 133 million bushels. Since 2000, government wheat holdings dropped steadily until recently when the last of the government-owned wheat was sold.
With no formal plan for wheat stocks by the U.S. government, wheat stocks have defaulted to the arena of the private free-market sector. Unfortunately, the private sector has no plans for any kind of minimum wheat stocks that would protect from a price and/or availability standpoint the American public.
Private wheat stocks are divided into two major categories — on-farm wheat stocks owned by farmers and off-farm wheat stocks owned by warehouses and grain companies. These two together held 305.6 million bushels of wheat as of June 1 — or roughly 1 bushel per person living in the United States — the lowest level in 60 years.
Of these stocks, on-farm wheat stocks are at 25.6 million bushels, the lowest level of on-farm wheat stocks since the USDA started keeping tabs back in 1934. So as you are driving in rural America before wheat harvest, the farmer's bins have never been so empty.
The USDA, projects America to have a bumper wheat crop in 2008 — producing 2.43 billion bushels and consuming and exporting 2.30 billion bushels. This leaves a meager 133 million bushels (5.5 percent of production) as a margin for error. Globally, the USDA projects wheat production to be 24.36 billion bushels, consumption to be 23.74 billion bushels for a relatively smaller margin of 622 million bushels or 2.6 percent of production.
The recent wheat crises in America was sparked by the nation exporting more wheat than it produced. This means the true 2008 wheat margin for Americans is really the global margin of 2.6 percent. Any decline from global projections could precipitate greater wheat exports from America and further draw down already low domestic and global wheat stocks.
Food security is emerging as a global focal point. With the U.S. government and the private sector lacking visions for stocks, food security is poised to grow as a grass-roots issue around the nation.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
food that needs less water - Xeric plants
ht - /veggiepatchreimagined.blogspot.com
Vegetables - perennial:
Prickly Pear Cactus - pads edible
Notes: A delicacy I have never tried but it is drought-tolerant. There are several types that are native to Canada and quite frost hardy.
Source: Gardens North
Nodding Onion (allium cernuum) - leaves, flowers, bulb
Notes: Several sources say 'very drought tolerant' so I look forwad to trying this out. It has a lovely pink flower and is supposed to taste good to boot.
Source: Gardens North, Edible Landscapes
Garlic Chives (allium tuberosum) - all plant
Notes: It is said to be fairly drought tolerant and does well in my non-irrigated sandy garden in the south side of my front yard. I have also heard of people growing it as a groundcover under trees - presumedly ones with open canopies. This is one tough plant so I don't doubt that it can take some punishment.
Source: Ask me, ask a friend. Someone you know has too much of this plant, various commercial sources including Ritchers who have an unusual pink flowered variety
Crambe (maritima & cordifolia) Sea Kale - young leaves, blanched shoots, young flowerbuds
Notes: Crambe maritima is seakale which should be hardy around here. It is going through its first winter in my garden so I'll let you know though it is mentioned in a gardening book from the Ottawa Valley. Crambe cordifolia may also be hardy around here and is known variously as flowering kale, giant kale or giant gypsophilia (baby's breath) according to Dave's Garden. Both of these plants are extremely attractive with large glaucous leaves and impressive sprays of flowers once they get going. They are drought tolerant because of their deep root systems. To ensure good root development, sow where you want it to grow.
Sources for seakale: La Societe des Plantes, Bountiful Gardens
Asparagus: new shoots
Notes: Sometimes listed as drought tolerant. This is because of their extensive moisture seeking root system. I would say that this is somewhat drought tolerant once established. It also prefers soil rich in organic matter.
Sources: various
Alfalfa, lucerne: growing tips, sprouted seeds
Notes: A nitrogen fixing plant with very deep roots that mine the subsoil. Compact salad plant or use for green manure to add a kick to your compost. It would make a pretty border plant and also attracts beneficials.
Sources: Ritchers, others
Jeruselum Articoke: tubers
Notes: Fantastic perennial food plant - pest resistant, drought resistant, will grow in light shade (gets about 4-6 hours in my yard and grows12 feet high with huge yields in droughted soil next to the western side of the house). I would ammend the soil with organic matter to keep up the fertility. The only caveats are that this plant stores sugars in the indigestible form of inulin which gives some people 'gas' and it does not store in a cellar well though I have developed a simple technique for storing which I'll write about another time. Maximillian perennial sunflower is a related species which according to the book Gaia's Garden produces smaller tubers and edible oil producing 'sunflower' seeds.
Sources: various, Mapple farm has the cultivar 'Volgo 2' which is less knobbly, plant small tubers from grocery store, contact me in the spring or fall for some.
Chinese Articoke: tubers
Notes: It is related to lamb's ear and is sometimes listed as drought-tolerant though it will produce better with more moisture. As they work like a ground cover, they might be nice to grow in and around other plants which would also shelter them a bit from drying winds.
Sources: Mapple farm
Sedum: leaves
Notes: Really, most sedums are edible. Surprised? Me too, but there you go. I tasted S. telephium (like Autumn Joy) that were shade grown and they were quite nice, lemony. I have no idea what they would taste like if grown in full sun but it is worth a try and they look great in the garden too.
Source: various
Yucca filamentosa & Y. glauca: flowering stem, flowers (bitter according to pfaf) and fruit
Notes: Too pretty to eat though I guess I could try the fruit. Very drought-tolerant.
Sources: various
Winecups or Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata - roots and leaves
Notes: Have yet to try this one too, but the roots are supposed to be reminiscent of sweet potato. It's a mallow relative so the leaves are edible and are mucligenous according to pfaf like okra or some other cooked mallows. A true drought fighter, very pretty.
Sources: Cottage Gardener
Allium stellatum & Allium textile - whole plant I think
Notes: Prarie natives that can take dry soils. I don't know too much about these plants so you can check out Plants for a Future if you want more details.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Astragalus crassicarpus - plum milkvetch - seed pod
Notes: This plant gets an honourable mention from Gaia's garden about homescale permaculture. The plant looks like vetch but the seedpods look like itty bitty plums. It's also nitrogen fixing which means it would require less fertile soils. I've ordered seed so I'll let you know how it goes.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Psoralea esculenta - prairie turnip - taproot
Notes: When I was scanning Prairie Moon's seed list, I saw the name 'prairie turnip' and some googling revealed that it is considered very tasty. Yup, you guessed it. Seed will be arriving at my house for trial this spring. The plant looks like a small hairy lupin - another nitrogen fixer.
Straight forward wiki link
Sources: Prairie Moon Seeds
Eryngium maritimum - Sea Holly - blanched shoots, roots
Notes: Established plants are drought tolerant and they are also salt tolerant with an extensive root system that can be used to stabilize soil. I have never tried to eat this plant though I enjoy the blue flowered cultivars. I see this as a marginal vegetable as you unless you have a large population, digging up the roots would remove it. I am not sure of how many shoots you could blanch before you significantly lowered its growth potential.
Sources: various
Vegetables - perennial:
Prickly Pear Cactus - pads edible
Notes: A delicacy I have never tried but it is drought-tolerant. There are several types that are native to Canada and quite frost hardy.
Source: Gardens North
Nodding Onion (allium cernuum) - leaves, flowers, bulb
Notes: Several sources say 'very drought tolerant' so I look forwad to trying this out. It has a lovely pink flower and is supposed to taste good to boot.
Source: Gardens North, Edible Landscapes
Garlic Chives (allium tuberosum) - all plant
Notes: It is said to be fairly drought tolerant and does well in my non-irrigated sandy garden in the south side of my front yard. I have also heard of people growing it as a groundcover under trees - presumedly ones with open canopies. This is one tough plant so I don't doubt that it can take some punishment.
Source: Ask me, ask a friend. Someone you know has too much of this plant, various commercial sources including Ritchers who have an unusual pink flowered variety
Crambe (maritima & cordifolia) Sea Kale - young leaves, blanched shoots, young flowerbuds
Notes: Crambe maritima is seakale which should be hardy around here. It is going through its first winter in my garden so I'll let you know though it is mentioned in a gardening book from the Ottawa Valley. Crambe cordifolia may also be hardy around here and is known variously as flowering kale, giant kale or giant gypsophilia (baby's breath) according to Dave's Garden. Both of these plants are extremely attractive with large glaucous leaves and impressive sprays of flowers once they get going. They are drought tolerant because of their deep root systems. To ensure good root development, sow where you want it to grow.
Sources for seakale: La Societe des Plantes, Bountiful Gardens
Asparagus: new shoots
Notes: Sometimes listed as drought tolerant. This is because of their extensive moisture seeking root system. I would say that this is somewhat drought tolerant once established. It also prefers soil rich in organic matter.
Sources: various
Alfalfa, lucerne: growing tips, sprouted seeds
Notes: A nitrogen fixing plant with very deep roots that mine the subsoil. Compact salad plant or use for green manure to add a kick to your compost. It would make a pretty border plant and also attracts beneficials.
Sources: Ritchers, others
Jeruselum Articoke: tubers
Notes: Fantastic perennial food plant - pest resistant, drought resistant, will grow in light shade (gets about 4-6 hours in my yard and grows12 feet high with huge yields in droughted soil next to the western side of the house). I would ammend the soil with organic matter to keep up the fertility. The only caveats are that this plant stores sugars in the indigestible form of inulin which gives some people 'gas' and it does not store in a cellar well though I have developed a simple technique for storing which I'll write about another time. Maximillian perennial sunflower is a related species which according to the book Gaia's Garden produces smaller tubers and edible oil producing 'sunflower' seeds.
Sources: various, Mapple farm has the cultivar 'Volgo 2' which is less knobbly, plant small tubers from grocery store, contact me in the spring or fall for some.
Chinese Articoke: tubers
Notes: It is related to lamb's ear and is sometimes listed as drought-tolerant though it will produce better with more moisture. As they work like a ground cover, they might be nice to grow in and around other plants which would also shelter them a bit from drying winds.
Sources: Mapple farm
Sedum: leaves
Notes: Really, most sedums are edible. Surprised? Me too, but there you go. I tasted S. telephium (like Autumn Joy) that were shade grown and they were quite nice, lemony. I have no idea what they would taste like if grown in full sun but it is worth a try and they look great in the garden too.
Source: various
Yucca filamentosa & Y. glauca: flowering stem, flowers (bitter according to pfaf) and fruit
Notes: Too pretty to eat though I guess I could try the fruit. Very drought-tolerant.
Sources: various
Winecups or Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata - roots and leaves
Notes: Have yet to try this one too, but the roots are supposed to be reminiscent of sweet potato. It's a mallow relative so the leaves are edible and are mucligenous according to pfaf like okra or some other cooked mallows. A true drought fighter, very pretty.
Sources: Cottage Gardener
Allium stellatum & Allium textile - whole plant I think
Notes: Prarie natives that can take dry soils. I don't know too much about these plants so you can check out Plants for a Future if you want more details.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Astragalus crassicarpus - plum milkvetch - seed pod
Notes: This plant gets an honourable mention from Gaia's garden about homescale permaculture. The plant looks like vetch but the seedpods look like itty bitty plums. It's also nitrogen fixing which means it would require less fertile soils. I've ordered seed so I'll let you know how it goes.
Sources: Prairie Moon Nursery
Psoralea esculenta - prairie turnip - taproot
Notes: When I was scanning Prairie Moon's seed list, I saw the name 'prairie turnip' and some googling revealed that it is considered very tasty. Yup, you guessed it. Seed will be arriving at my house for trial this spring. The plant looks like a small hairy lupin - another nitrogen fixer.
Straight forward wiki link
Sources: Prairie Moon Seeds
Eryngium maritimum - Sea Holly - blanched shoots, roots
Notes: Established plants are drought tolerant and they are also salt tolerant with an extensive root system that can be used to stabilize soil. I have never tried to eat this plant though I enjoy the blue flowered cultivars. I see this as a marginal vegetable as you unless you have a large population, digging up the roots would remove it. I am not sure of how many shoots you could blanch before you significantly lowered its growth potential.
Sources: various
Saturday, July 4, 2009
ht global health
For the first time, the number of chronically hungry people worldwide is greater than 1 billion, according to a recent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statement, the Financial Times reports (Blas, Financial Times, 6/19). The total number of hungry people is estimated to have reached 1.02 billion – an increase of 11 percent from last year's 915 million, according to the agency, which based its estimate on analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Rizzo, AP/Google.com, 6/20).
"The new U.N. assessment signals that the food and economic crisis of the last two years have reversed the past quarter-century’s slow but constant decline in the proportion of undernourished people as a percentage of the world’s population," the Financial Times writes (Financial Times, 6/19). Although food prices are lower than "their mid-2008 highs," they are still "stubbornly high" in some domestic markets, according to the FAO. Jacques Diouf, FAO's director-general, said regions across the globe "have been affected by the rise of food insecurity" and that "[n]o part of the world is immune."
AP/Google.com reports that "Asia and the Pacific has the largest number of hungry people – 642 million, up 10.5 percent from last year. Sub-Saharan Africa registers 265 million undernourished, an 11.8 percent increase. Even in the developed world, undernourishment is a growing concern, with 15 million in all and a 15.4 percent increase, the sharpest rise around the world, FAO said" (AP/Google.com, 6/20).
and
a "dangerous mix" of the global economic slowdown and very high food prices pushed another 100 million people into the hungry category over the past year.
"Neither drought, nor floods or disastrous harvests can be held to blame this time. Worsening hunger in the last three years largely stems from economic shocks," he said.
“The silent hunger crisis, affecting one-sixth of all of humanity, poses a serious risk for world peace and security,” Diouf said. “Today, increasing hunger is a global phenomenon. All world regions have been affected.”
The warning came after the FAO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said earlier last week that agricultural commodities prices would rise 10-30 per cent over the next 10 years compared with their average of 1997-2006, less than previously feared because of lower economic growth and oil prices
my comment: It is our job to fix this, without just spending money. A small level of food supports, a way to monetize the labors of a billion people to pay for the food, and a suitable transit and storage system. May be algae all around?
For the first time, the number of chronically hungry people worldwide is greater than 1 billion, according to a recent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statement, the Financial Times reports (Blas, Financial Times, 6/19). The total number of hungry people is estimated to have reached 1.02 billion – an increase of 11 percent from last year's 915 million, according to the agency, which based its estimate on analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Rizzo, AP/Google.com, 6/20).
"The new U.N. assessment signals that the food and economic crisis of the last two years have reversed the past quarter-century’s slow but constant decline in the proportion of undernourished people as a percentage of the world’s population," the Financial Times writes (Financial Times, 6/19). Although food prices are lower than "their mid-2008 highs," they are still "stubbornly high" in some domestic markets, according to the FAO. Jacques Diouf, FAO's director-general, said regions across the globe "have been affected by the rise of food insecurity" and that "[n]o part of the world is immune."
AP/Google.com reports that "Asia and the Pacific has the largest number of hungry people – 642 million, up 10.5 percent from last year. Sub-Saharan Africa registers 265 million undernourished, an 11.8 percent increase. Even in the developed world, undernourishment is a growing concern, with 15 million in all and a 15.4 percent increase, the sharpest rise around the world, FAO said" (AP/Google.com, 6/20).
and
a "dangerous mix" of the global economic slowdown and very high food prices pushed another 100 million people into the hungry category over the past year.
"Neither drought, nor floods or disastrous harvests can be held to blame this time. Worsening hunger in the last three years largely stems from economic shocks," he said.
“The silent hunger crisis, affecting one-sixth of all of humanity, poses a serious risk for world peace and security,” Diouf said. “Today, increasing hunger is a global phenomenon. All world regions have been affected.”
The warning came after the FAO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said earlier last week that agricultural commodities prices would rise 10-30 per cent over the next 10 years compared with their average of 1997-2006, less than previously feared because of lower economic growth and oil prices
my comment: It is our job to fix this, without just spending money. A small level of food supports, a way to monetize the labors of a billion people to pay for the food, and a suitable transit and storage system. May be algae all around?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)