12d • General discussion
Is it possible?
Maybe this isn't the place to do this, and then again, maybe it is. Some of you may know the following about me already and some may not, but I think it is important to state it upfront to give context for what I'm about to talk about -- the actual topic and reason for my post. As a preface I'm going to list a few facts, bits of personal information that I wouldn't typically share but ones I believe are quite relevant...
I am so new to hydroponic growing that I haven't even started germinating my first seed yet let alone grown a plant hydroponically. I live in Minnesota where we experience short growing seasons outdoors due to our brutal winter conditions. I will soon turn 65 years old. The United States department of Social Security officially deemed me to be disabled more than 20 years ago, which means my income is quite small and my potential to earn an income to provide for myself during what is often labeled as "later life" or "retirement years" is even smaller. I recently moved out of my son's house into a one bedroom apartment, so I am basically starting over as it pertains to household necessities such as, well pretty much everything...linens, furniture, pantry staples and basic items for cooking, cleaning, living, etc.
So, why did I share this information? Those details are my receipts, my proof that I have experienced more than a few years of life in general, but moreso a life with struggles and hardship. No, I'm not looking for sympathy or help but rather, showing that I have first hand knowledge and experience with food insecurity, the newest label given to describe not only the lack of abundant and healthy food, but also to include the knowledge of where and when my next meal may be coming from.
An hour or so ago I received a press release from my state officials regarding grant awards given to a handful of private colleges in Minnesota for the purpose of addressing the food insecurity of students on these campuses. The press release listed the stipulations that were included with these grants as to the action steps that were required, by the state, to be taken by the colleges, in order to qualify for the costs incurred to be covered for payment by the these funds, which totalled hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Okay. Big deal. So what. Right? Why should you care? Why should that even matter to you? To me? My first thought was, "Good on you Governor Walz! Great job addressing a real problem!" I mean it is a real problem for people...students don't learn well when they are hungry. (Follow my train of thoughts...) They don't learn well even if they aren't hungry per se (belly growling) but also while they're starved of vitamins and minerals necessary for bodily functions and sustaining life from affordable food...aka ultra processed, low quality, nutritionally lacking and chemically rich. This is Minnesota. It is the middle of winter. We're dealing with -45°F temperatures. How do you grow fresh food in that! Produce is expensive in season. It isn't just students that suffer. It also isn't just a problem in Minnesota. Or in the United States. This is a global problem. This affects almost everyone. Wait a minute...what were those action steps and what costs do these funds cover? How in the hell do you partner with food banks for regular distributions on campus? Giving students information about food pantries, EBT and other programs is always a good idea. When those programs exist and receive funding. There's no security in that. Just last month the current administration again threatened to withdraw funding to Minnesota. People in Minnesota are dying slowly and painfully because of the cost of food. (Yeah, we're also dying here more quickly for other reasons!) How do these grants help solve the problem of food insecurity among college students? This sounds more like using a dot band-aid to quell a severed artery! This money is going to colleges. Colleges are places for higher education...and they have labs for hands on learning...research departments. These grants will not solve the problem. This sounds more like "Give a man a fish..." thinking. Too bad that money isn't being spent on "Teach a man to fish..." problem solving instead. What would better solve the problem? It certainly isn't by purchasing crappy food to give to people. Nor is it giving them a few dollars and saying, "This will hold you for the month." Being able to grow food locally 24/7/365 would help. Hydroponics would help. Too bad it is so expensive and has more problems than answers. Wait a minute...aren't college educations supposed to solve problems? Wouldn't it make more sense to give money to figure out how to bring down the costs of hydroponic gardening? To give every person the ability to grow their own food wherever they are? To remove capitalistic greed from this basic necessity for living?
So, I sent the following comment in reply to the person in the department listed and linked as the person responsible for the press release:
"Part of the answer to food insecurity regionally and globally can be addressed via hydroponic indoor growing! More needs to be done to address and bring down costs associated with this modality, education and information distribution about it's existence, research in the area of better methods for sustainability and availability, etc.
I'm just stating the obvious thing that too few people are seeing or know anything about. The benefits are too numerous to list here and cover a wide range of areas, while the downsides are few and seem inconsequential. In my opinion, while throwing money to create food pantries and deliver information about EBT benefit availability may feed some in the immediate moment, actually growing food onsite and promoting research and availability seem to be better long term solutions for the problem, not just for student populations but for all."
I know. Not a great response but I had to say something, anything.
Okay. Now I can finally state the purpose for this rant. Feeding people has been a huge part of my life. You are all more experienced hydroponic growers than I am. I can envision hydroponics as part of the solution for ending global food insecurity, although not in its current state. Right now it is financially out of reach for every single person that experiences this problem, even those willing to try DIY setups to get started. In your experienced opinion, am I correct? Can hydroponics potentially help solve the world hunger problems, of course, AFTER receiving some much needed tweaking and problem solving; to bring better technology in as well as lowering the cost of component manufacturing while increasing the quality, durability, dependability and safety? And, if I am correct, how do we get people to listen? Who do we tell? What do we say? Or, am I
stark raving mad? I love being a part of this community and I value your opinions. I really want to hear your thoughts, even if your thoughts are for me to go sit down and be quiet.
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Is it possible?
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