Aug

3

Truck GardenOnce upon a time these were called "truck gardens", and they were exactly that– local gardens whose produce could easily be trucked to market without refrigeration. Not surprisingly, the first efforts of the Dept. of Agriculture during the Depression were to limit sales of local produce for "health" reasons. The larger grower co-ops were finding themselves undercut by truck gardeners, and the economists in both the Hoover and Roosevelt administrations had "proven"  that the solution to the Depression was to raise the price level. Then, as now, open competition was great for the customers and painful to the producers. Then, as now, the votes in Congress went with the large producers and the civil servants, who were, as always, certain of the marginal utility (for them and the public interest) to be found in government's unhidden hand.

Michael Ott wites:

FYI, if you ever need anything to plant in your backyard garden, check out seedsavers. It's the largest non-government seed bank in the US and they have amazing varieties of nearly every plant that you've ever heard of. Their business is booming because they were into the organic local movement before it became hip.

Full disclosure– Seed Savers was founded by my cousin and she is still on the board. If you're ever close by, it's a fantastic and relaxing way to spend an afternoon.


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