WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEW YEAR: PROJECT #2
PTF is kicking off the new year with another project – challenge. Interested in participating? Okie dokie, here’s the challenge….
In our society, growing food yourself has become the most radical of acts. It is truly the only effective protest, one that can – and will – overturn the corporate powers that be. By the process of directly working in harmony with nature, we do the one thing most essential to change the world – we change ourselves. ~ Jules Dervaes ~
100 Foot Diet – Growing Closer to Home: A Lifelong Challenge
It wasn’t that long ago (1940s) that people planted Victory Gardens when it became necessary for them, due to wartime shortages, to grow their own food. Now, it’s our turn
If you want to fight against peak oil, climate change and our consumerist culture, then join us and start a living protest right in your own back (front) yards. Be the change, live the solution! Use your yard (or balcony or porch steps) not only to grow food but also to cultivate a healthier and more fulfilling life.
There have been 100 mile diet and other eat local challenges. PTF’s homegrown revolutionaries are upping the ante by reducing the mileage to a few steps – to right outside your back or front door.
The challenge is simple. Beginning as soon as you can, prepare a meal at least once a week with only homegrown vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, dairy products or meat, using as few store bought ingredients as possible.
The purpose is plain – the waging of an all-out fight against the forces that keep you dependent on the system of petroleum fueled food. The degree to which you rely on today’s artificial corporate structure determines the extent of your vulnerability. Resolve to lessen your dependence on outside food sources.
The result is revolutionary. As you take back responsibility for your food supply, you’ll experience the empowerment and fulfillment that comes from learning the basic skills of providing for yourself and your family.
Let’s sow the seeds of victory and get our hands dirty to fill our plates. Plant a VICTORY GARDEN today!
:: Guidelines ::
A meal must be comprised of food grown on your property or garden plot (literally or figuratively within – 100 feet – of your front or back door). If non-homegrown ingredients are needed, then we suggest following these modified locavore guidelines
If not from BACKYARD, then Locally produced (PTF’s addition)
If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic.If not ORGANIC, then Family farm.If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business.If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Fair Trade.
:: Getting Started ::
Plan what food you can grow. Your first meal might only have a few herbs from small pots growing in your window or sprouts sprouted in a jar. In northern climates, January is a good time to plan for spring gardening (think seed catalogues!). Look around where you live and locate a space to plant a small garden. If you sow a variety of vegetables and fruit, soon you will have enough ingredients to prepare a full meal!
:: Moving Forward ::
Once you have planted your garden and have prepared a weekly homegrown meal, consider how you can expand your “farm,” increase your garden’s productivity, and, thereby, cook more homegrown meals per week. Then take a further step on the path to independence and victory by learning to preserve your garden harvest.
:: Keeping Track ::
Keep track of your progress. If you wish, once a week you are invited to leave a comment with a link to your website or, if you don’t have a website, to describe your meal in the comment box and let others know of your progress.
:: Participating ::
If you like to take part in this challenge, post in comment box below. Participating on the internet? Feel free to use the ‘100 foot’ icon if you are a taking part (remember to “save as” to not use our bandwidth ) and link to this challenge here Spread the homegrown movement: share, email, post this challenge – the more people participating the better.
By planting a Victory Garden means:
- More nutrious food & better health
- Food security
- Improving quality of life
- Saving money
- Reducing food miles, fuel & energy dependence
- Reducing excessive packaging and effects of climate change
HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION – Radical change taking root
Declare victory against climate change and corporate powers that be. Take control over the quality of your food and improve your health and immediate environment.
View our inspiring video on YOUTUBE – HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION >>
Join this Victory Garden Challenge, create and inspire new organic gardens.
Spread the seeds and sow the word – let’s grow the future.
Let’s start right here, right now and remember this growing challenge should fun!
Hey Gals and Guys,
Just letting you know that I’m on board for the 100 ft. challenge! I’ve been preparing for this for a couple of years, now I’m ready to go full force. My goal is 4-5 meals per week with an attempt at continuing through the winter. That’s the challenge here in Indiana. I’m still using the Solar oven I bought from you. 2 days ago it reached 300 degrees very easily!! Thanks for all you do, and for giving us a great challenge!! Talk to you soon.
Craig
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I’ll happily join in, though my garden is just getting started. I do know where to find locally grown items until we have enough produce to make complete meals, however. This will be inspiring and FUN. What a great idea!
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What a great challenge — sign me up. I recently invited my son and his girlfriend to a “from scratch” dinner with me every Tuesday, with the idea of getting them used to eating foods that don’t come out of cans and packages. Yes, I know I’m to blame for this state of affairs — I’m a recent convert to fresh, organic food myself, and my son has been less than impressed so far. My goal is to grow and cook foods that he will like so much, he’ll be asking for them. Thanks for the nudge!
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Fantastic challenge. Like Craig in Indiana, I’ve been prepping for this for a couple of years – building gardens and trying to get my soil just right. This evening in Phoenix, I’m eating veggie soup prepared with homegrown herbs and greens – oregano, garlic chives, parsley, dill, chard, arugula – (the rest is from the farmer’s market).
I would add to your challenge that you share that meal with as many people as is feasible to “spread the word”. I know my soup was enjoyed by my parents and a neighbor.
You guys are inspirational – thank you for all your hard work.
Jennifer in Phoenix, AZ
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Btw — I just nominated Path to Freedom for the Bloggies’ Best Topical Blog award [since there wasn't an environmental or gardening topic available]. I hope other readers will go do the same because the Bloggies are a great way to spread the word to people who might not find PTF otherwise. Here’s where to go:
http://2008.bloggies.com/
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Excellent idea! I’ll be signing on as well…I live in a housing co-op in Michigan and have very little space available to me (last year I planted in containers in a 100 square foot deck and planted in 100 square foot of back garden area), but I had pretty amazing results in 2007 given how shady and small the plot is. This has long been a goal of mine (I can usually manage a 100% home grown salad and partially home grown main meals), and as I am getting a little more gardening space this year I am looking forward to this challenge!
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I will try this challenge. I have been growing vegetables in my Ohio yard for the last couple of years. It seems my garden improves a little each year. Getting the soil just right is the trick and I plan on putting in at least a couple of new beds this year. I do not like the thought of herbicides, pesticides, or hormones in my food. This is the perfect way to avoid this – just grow it yourself. Your website has inspired me for the last 1 1/2 years. I have faithfully followed your journal and your site is my home page. I accept this challenge with enthusiasm.
Carol – Southern Ohio
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I want to take on this challenge. I have been searching today for locally grown bulk food items; that is, grains, seeds, legumes and nuts. I live around San Diego. Do you or other commenters know where I might try to order bulk?
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Hmm… What a great idea for you to promote this!
Was thinking I wouldn’t join in at first, because we can’t make each and every morsel eaten a homegrown one (like I think we should), and I don’t like the idea of people watching me eat at all — but you aren’t asking for all that much, so sign me up! Just one meal per week (which we already try to do) plus you are giving some additional leeway for purchasing to make it easier too!
And I’d like to encourage everyone out there reading this to go ahead and sign up! What a great way to create better habits!
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LOVE the poster! Can you blow that up into a full page .pdf for use in possible community challenge??
Also LOVE the power-to-the-people fist with shovel.
SUPERB graphics!!!
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We are in! We have been planning on launching our own victory garden in protest of the Iraq war and over consumption anyway, so this is awesome.
We are going to be using the Square foot gardening method on our homestead. We are currently designing the blocks in which to grow our bounty and should be starting our tomato seeds in the next couple of weeks.
Namaste
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I’ll give it a try. My fruit trees are starting to produce, and I am hoping for my asparagus to take off, so I will have some early spring stuff, not just waiting til full summer for my veggies to take off.
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I’m up for the challenge and I’m going to start today. I’ll be blogging about it at my garden blog: http://www.alamedagarden.blogspot.com.
Can you post or otherwise make available the HTML for the two icons? I was able to get the HTML for the movie, but when I view source code for the icons, it appears to be the source code for the movie, not the icons.
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Sign me up!!! I think this is wonderfully, if for no other reason to make us more aware of where our food comes from. I’m planning on growing more this year so this will fit right in. Come on seed catalogues! I hope to plant fruit trees this year as well. Even tho those won’t produce for some time, I’ve got to get them going. Thank you all for all of your wonderful inspiration. Good luck to us all!!
Mia – Eastern Shore of Maryland
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Sign us up. Here is Maine we are still eating this years potatoes, home canned tomatoes and frozen veggies. Our plans for our garden include growing amaranth, dry beans,and buckwheat.. now if our little hens would lay some eggs…
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I’m in, and I put a link on my site with the banner. This sounds like fun.
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I love this idea! Weve been very very slowly working toward producing some of our own food. Were really at the very beginning and have a tiny yard–but count us in!
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Hello there, we are in western Colorado and are up for the challenge! I have a large garden space and will be putting in berry bushes and incorporating some of my front lawn this year. We will be building a chicken arc and getting our own eggs on board as well. Thanks for the motivation.
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Good timing – my seed order just arrived, and I have vowed to make my garden plot productive this year. I’m in\!
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I’m in, provided I can do it as 100 yard challenge! I don’t want to have to move my poultry coop.
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Groovy, groovy, groovy. I can’t tell you enough how spirited and cool your site, efforts and call to action is. As an aspiring urban homesteader, there are moments when you feel decidedly out of sync with the world around you. So to learn of your efforts, and see this burgeoning community unfold, is very soul gratifying. I’ll take the challenge, join in the movement and cheer it’s march forward\!
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Ok, sounds interesting! Will give it my best shot. We may have some interesting meals at first! I will give the seed catalogs the twice over\!
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I’ll be joining in! My garden plot is a bit more than 100 ft away (it’s in a community garden that’s more like 2 blocks away), but that still counts, right?
I just wish, wish, wish I could raise my own chickens, too. That adventure will come some day when I’m not living in an apt on a suburban college campus!
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I’m joining in on this challenge. I have a small raised bed garden and plan on adding 2-3 more beds this year. There’s nothing better than sitting down to a meal of foods fresh from the garden.
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I’m in! You can see my pics here: http://s189.photobucket.com/al.....ild/Garden 2007/I just started 140 tomato plants and about 200 peppers. Will wait for night time temps to stabilize to plant the rest. I miss my hens. No
I just harvested yesterdays lunch from my Greens patch. Thanks for being here. J
t allowed although no one really complains and I might get more soon.
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