2012 - The year of labor!

 A taste of last year's garden.

Happy New Year! I've got big plans for 2012. My two main goals are to get closer (real close) to graduating with my PhD in Information Science and to successfully grow organic vegetables. I have been a vegetarian for years and have become a plant-strong vegan since last March. I have three square foot gardens and have successfully grown a few tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. But I am ready to get serious about organic gardening and composting.

Where did all this motivation come from? I started out by learning about how nutrition impacts our health and can significantly reduce our risk of degenerative disease, such as heart disease, cancer, and inflammation of all kinds. Which naturally leads to an interest in the quality of nutrition, such as organic produce. Now, I am new to information on commercial vs. organic and, frankly, I find the topic to be very confusing. (The link is not an endorsement for the movie, it is just a point of departure.)

Take genetically modified organisms (GMO) for example. Supposedly, it is very bad to have genetically altered produce that is bigger, uniformly attractive, and disease resistant because it was modified in a laboratory (although, I think the lack of flavor is the biggest crime). But it is good to have organic produce that have been genetically modified, just as long as it was done in the greenhouse. The fact is that all of our produce has been genetically modified - those bright red, tangy tomatoes we strive for in the garden are nothing like the grape-sized, yellow nuggets the Native Americans knew.

Then, of course, we have the problem of pesticides. Poison, even if only targeting those little critters under our basil leaves, is less than appetizing. But sometimes, based on methods of cultivation, there can be little difference between commercial and organic produce as far as pesticide risk. Why pay high organic prices for the same potato? Is there really a nutritional difference between them? But how do you know which vegetables? And who wants to keep up with that?

The government, of course! Our all knowing, omnipotent juggernaut of regulation will certifiably qualify good vs. evil of all vegetable matter for our consumer digestion. And if you have ever tried to get a driver's license or pay your taxes, you know how that will go.

So, my solution is that if you want something done right, do it yourself. So here I go, armed with several garden books (Square Foot Gardening, Harvest Gardener, Let it Rot), the advice of friends, and the love of a new project into nature! Or, the well-manicured back yard at the least.