What can we do to reverse the effects of Climate Change
ECOTRAIN QUESTION OF THE WEEK
"What things could we do differently to reduce climate change?"
There are multiple contributors to global warming, which will result in a world altering shift of our environment. The planet is going to get warmer, the seas will rise, the ozone layer will thin out and weather patterns will become more extreme. Basically, conditions will become hostile for man, plants and animals. Survival will be challenging.
Obviously 🙄, the threat is massive and it’s a no-brainer that we should apply ourselves with diligence to the problem. As a member of the EcoTrain team, I’ve read several really great posts that suggest ways in which we can tackle the issue, they include reducing the use of plastic, planting trees, loving ourselves more, managing our greed for resources and moving to a plant-based diet. All of these suggestions are fabulous and they will improve the outcome.
What I haven’t seen is a rant against industrialized farming. Mechanized farming contributes more than 30% of all man made emissions; this does not mean only animal farming it means all farming that uses electricity, artificial fertilizers and chemical pest control. But, what can we do about it because, the bottom line is that we’ve got to eat. There are billions of people on the planet and farming methods, despite industrialization, are inadequate; we simply cannot feed everyone as it stands, so how can we reduce the worst scourge against the environment and save our planet.
It’s a catch-22 situation. However, there is a two-fold semi-solution; firstly, people should be encouraged to follow a plant based diet, and secondly, they should be taught to grow their own food, in the most sustainable way possible. Oh, haha, I hear you, millions of people don’t have access to suitable land or even water, for that matter, to grow their own food.
https://pixabay.com/photos/vertical-farm-green-wall-bok-choy-916337/
But, what if I told you that there's a way to grow more than 60% of the basic vegetable needs for a family, using about 3 cups of water per plant and old soda bottles as containers. This method of growing is suitable for the poorest, most water-challenged areas as well as for those who are wealthy, time-challenged and live in high rise apartment buildings. Anyone can grow vegetables hydroponically in extremely small spaces, especially if space is used vertically. Planting via this method would reduce people’s reliance on industrialized farming, make them far more independent and reduce the ravages of world hunger. As to the method, you can read my post here, which includes a how-to video.
Growing food in the traditional manner is great for those who have the space, water resources and time. For everyone else, growing hydroponically saves 90% of the water needed to grow a plant to maturity and it takes no more than 10 minutes every two weeks to look after the plant; it’s a total win-win situation.
There are only three obstacles to popularizing home-growing hydroponically
Education
A driving force to educate and demonstrate the advantages should be on the front-page of every institution’s to-do list.
Hydroponic feed
The feed, which needs to be added in very small quantities, should be freely available, or people should be taught to make their own. (The WHO should be teaching this growing method worldwide and supplying seed and feed as part of their ‘Feed the World’ program.)
Root vegetables
Root vegetables are difficult to grow hydroponically, but there are several methods of growing in pots and baskets that could be added to the hydro-garden to supplement the supply.
Conclusion
It’s really simple, start growing as much of your own food as possible and eat a plant-based diet.
My how to video
Video from YouTube on vertical growing
All pictures and videos are my own unless otherwise stated
Images taken using my iPad and manipulated using ArtStudio and Videoshop