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we can create our own secure fresh food supply in the South East. In striving for food sustainability, in the long term, there are challenges we have never had to deal with, but we do have the tools within our grasp to manage the issues, as presented below.
The Problems
Clear trends in global warming indicate we are heading towards a grim climatic future and while it's hard to predict how bad it will get, we already see world-wide evidence such as an increasing number and intensity of floods, droughts and storms.
For us in the South East a drier period is predicted but it will probably be interspersed with dramatic wet and windy weather events because we live in the stormy corner of Australia on the 'roaring' Tasman Sea.
If slow effect weather crises do occur, such as an extended drought, the capacity to sustain or manage the national food crop will be reduced and there is no real 'national' solution.
If rapid effect weather events such as cyclones or floods occur in production areas, whole regions can cease production immediately with no alternative production plans or capacity in place and no ready, skilled labour force to provide emergency support to farmers. We saw this with the 'banana cyclone' a few years ago.
However the most serious situation we face is dwindling global energy supply which will definitely raise food prices and force changes to our existing lifestyle. An even greater concern is that the end of our high energy era will arrive expontially faster because of a supply panic from energy hungry giants like China, America, India and Europe who are taking a very long time to realise and adjust to the problem because their economies, like ours, are based on expansion and high energy inputs.
Another factor for our attention is that commercial food crops are highly mechanised from 'farm gate to plate' and the inevitable higher production costs will be passed on to us, which we see already happening.
Food transport (food miles) over large distances is prone to many external threat factors such as weather, fuel cost and fuel availability as well as other problems such as economic tightening due to share market instability, global warming events placing stress on the national economy and war.
Viable seed production is not embedded in our community culture because we have become used to supermarket supply even in a regional area where we could be growing our own food. Social support structures and a shared labour culture that used to exist decades ago have dissolved in all but the most remote communities.
Government response, at all levels, to these food supply factors appears to be slow and reactive rather than one of leadership which is another continuing trend we should expect regardless of who holds office in the future.
We are highly exposed to food scarcity in the future. Solutions can be found and implemented at the local level.
The Solutions
As a community we find ourselves with some stark choices for the future in terms of our food security. As a community in the South East we need to initiate this discussion and action immediately because of the extended time it takes to create sustainable food production in a region that imports almost all of it's food.
We need to build local food security to survive into the next few decades.
Obviously food security is not critical in 2007 but it probably will be in 2015 or 2020. In building social programmes of this size, 10 or 15 years is not so long - especially given that to build food security and diversity there is an education component that will take a generation to develop. The next generation will have even less energy available and they will need a supportive culture on which they can build.
So, if we must grow our own food what are the components of sustainability that we should look to first?
Seed stock - thebegavalley.org.au/seedsavers.html
Seeds are a central factor to a sustainable agricultural future - and the plant variety rights debate of 15 years ago will soon reveal it's truth.
There are many commercial suppliers of heritage seed stocks (seeds that generate plants which will throw viable seed). More importantly there is a Bega Valley local provenance seed savers network and they are always looking for people to grow specific varieties 'true to form' and can help with how to gather and store the seed required. You, the reader, can make sure you develop your knowledge of seed management and propagation.
Success in viable seed management will rely on individuals not companies.
Agricultural Methods - Permaculture - permaculturedesign.com.au
In designing a new local agricultural system we can start with Permaculture (ie permanent agriculture) because it represents an ecological design system that is constantly being improved, it is open to all, is low input cost, widely accepted and has an international network. There are 12 Permaculture design principles and the reader would be advised to go through a Permaculture Design course as a starter.
The primary issue we will face is that water supply will be a problem. Permaculture helps us by replicating nature and drought mitigation techniques and species are available for when the going gets tough.
Agriculture Methods - Aquaponics - www.backyardaquaponics.com
New techniques for growing also include low input technology such as aquaponics where fish and vegetables live in a virtually closed system. As printed in The Producer Summer 2006/2007, Joel Malcolm has demonstrated a relatively low entry cost technique for using bacteria to convert ammonia, a by-product of fish culture, to nitrites and then nitrates which ca be fed to plants in a gravel bed growing medium. Small areas of land can readily produce high quantities of vegetables and fish in a sustainable system.
Agriculture Methods - Organics - www.bfa.com.au and Bio-dynamic Growing - www.biodynamics.net.au
Both organics and bio-dynamics are low external input methods of agriculture which are incredibly under utilised in the South East. While labour inputs are relatively high the returns are a premium produce. Investment in bio-fuel run mechanisation tools on broad-acre organic or bio-dynamic establishments is the commercial agriculture of the future.
It is regrettable there is so much misinformation about these proven agricultural methods demonstrating the demonisation of 'soft culture' advances in understanding many people choose not to invetsigate. These two methods represent the single greatest potential export 'product' for the region as dirty countries seek out clean food and agricultural produce for value add processing.
Agricultural Methods - Gene Technology
Gene technology presents a revolutionary opportunity for scientists and investors in many fields. It is high energy input and due to the investment interests, centrally controlled by companies driven by shareholder profits.
With no known exeptions agricultural gene technology presents a dire threat we are now seeing played out in the USA. While the writer believes it to be economically unsustainable the real risk, as the technology is trialled, is to bio-diversity and gene pools of the future which are, yet again, hocked for profit. It must be resisted as a plague like scourge!
Labour Force - thebegavalley.org.au/communitygardens.html
One problem facing many people wanting top grow their own food now is not having time to build and manage a local garden or food production system (eg small animal species).
Two options to solve the labour issue are available to us now. The first is to work at the local level with neighbours to develop community gardens. This is a great solution because it enhances the local community co-operation, develops problems solving, ideas and skills sharing and it also means a ready labour force is available to work on projects one person normally struggles to complete.
Local Exchange (Energy) Trading Systems LETS - bvlets.org.au
The second solution to labour problems is to use the Local Exchange Trading System (LETS) to exchange local, experienced labour for a nominal currency (South East 'Sapphires').
LETS enables groups and individuals to source labour for development projects such as harvesting without spending money - but accruing a 'sapphs' debt which can be repaid at another time in many ways. LETS is an excellent solution to a deepening national economy downturn or for people who want to grow in quantity but cannot afford the time or effort at present. Some poeple have built houses using LETS as their payment method with willing builders. LETS transactions can be mixed with dollars.
LETS is also an international model that is increasingly using the internet for information sharing and accounts reconcilliation.
Water
As Australia's water shortages increase, water arrest, harvesting and soil protection techniques will be driven by demand yet we are best advised to find and understand solutions now. Permaculture has design based solutions. Desert region soft technologies such as mass cooling of moisture laden hot air precipitates water in large quantities. Reed beds and other devices to manage waste water will soon be common as will good garden husbandry techniques such as mulching and vermiculture to maintain healthy soil structure and water retention.
The general lesson for water and garden management is look after the soil and the plants will be better off.
Transport - tripmeeter.org
Garden suplus is best processed within the community to value add or preserve for later use - but on occasion shipping surplus around the region will be cost and time prohibitive. A co-ordinated shared transport model could help solve transport costs. Web technology now allows us to manage these journeys for very low cost.
SCPA = scpa.thebegavalley.org.au
Clearly a co-ordinating local food production information and education group is required. The Sapphire Coast Producer's Association is now well positioned within the community to implement the transition process to community based food in association with Clean Energy for Eternity - cleanenergyforeternity.net.au - and The Bega Valley community website - thebegavalley.org.au - and their managing team at Austcom in Bega - australiancommunities.org.au and SCPA's project partners in the Far South Coast Community College www.learningworks.org.au and SERTEC www.sertec.com.au
SCPA has many facets and by promoting more local growers, champions will arise who can develop viable industries in food production, value-add and other relevant projects to the SCPA brief.
Conclusion
Food security requires a social paradigm change because grants, companies or government bodies cannot sit across the many disciplines required to achieve the goal of thousands of community gardens throughout the South East region.
A community garden or aquaponics installation on a suburban block may be generous enough to feed 10 people full time. With a population in the South East nearing 90,000 residents (not counting any tourists!)- back of the envelope maths demands we generate at least 9,000 community gardens! If a garden will only feed 5 people with all their needs, which is more realistic in the short term, 18,000 gardens will be needed.
Only a whole of community approach to the solution will solve the problem. Community gardens will need to be everywhere and education and information sharing will be the critical control element required for success.
Next on Community Gardens
The next article on community gardens and community food will look at more specific solutions - the practical experiences others have shared around the world - and locally managed communications systems to help community garden groups form, communicate locally, take advantage of prior knowledge and share their own experiences.
by Geoffrey Grigg
Ph: 6492 5550
Sources
Permaculture; Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, by David Holmgren
transitionculture.org/2007/07/30/david-holmgren-on-peak-oil-energy-descent-and-permaculture/
John Champagne, Brogo Permaculture Gardens, Ph:6492 7306, permaculturedesign.com.au
Energy Bulletin
energybulletin.net
The Producer, SCPA
Summer 2006/2007 Editiongeoffreygrigg(at)thebegavalley.org.au
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