Only 10 Days Later...an update on the terrarium

It didn't take long for the tiny seeds to emerge from the damp soil...only 10 days. The planting took place on November 19th (see blog posting "A Moment of Sunlight") and so far this project has been completely maintenance free requiring no additional watering (notice the condensation on the walls of the clear container). The reused pretzel container has proven to be quite cozy for this variety of plant life and surprisingly the elderly seed has seemed to flourish in the enclosed habitat.

Although the mixed flower seed was more of a convenience (the only seed readily available on hand) and not the ideal, I can hardly wait for the fantastic blooms to add a touch of color to our kitchen during the white of winter! It is always so exciting to watch in anticipation the growth of the gardens in the spring, now the rewards have been brought indoors.
click on any picture to enlarge

More on the Why

In my first post I didn't get too much into my purpose because I have a lot to say so here it is. It is my intention to be more self sufficient. I would like to be able to produce over fifty percent of the food my family consumes while still having enough to sell and make a living off of.

Growing the food is not an issues for me because I am very adapt at growing. My biggest hurdle is going to be marketing and selling which is probably the most important part of all of this. The sale of my products is obviously critical to my families well-being; where will the other fifty percent of food come from, the house payment, taxes, etc. It is also important to me because I believe that growing and selling produce locally can have positive effects on the local economy by keeping money in the area instead of allowing it to go into the hands of corporations. It also takes money away from the mega growers in the U.S. and elsewhere that have turned our food system into this mess of over processed hormone infested junk.

Another critical reason for this way of life is what it can do for my family. Growing and then eating the food you grow is a great confidence builder for kids (I know from first hand experience). Carring for a garden, fruit trees, or anything else is also a great way to spend good quality time together.

My final reason is the lowered impact on the earth. By producing a majority of my own food it greatly reduces my carbon footprint. I also create a situation where I can give others the same opportunity because by buying local a person can reduce there carbon foot print as well. My food is produced using organic type methods although I am not certified organically grown because the USDA has made that certification way to difficult and expensive to aquire. I do plan to become Certified Naturally Grown which is an equal but less expensive certification. You can read more on that here: http://www.naturallygrown.org/

So that would be my main purpose. Thanks for reading.