[mensplace]

Are you familiar with Victory gardens of years past...not for the "homeless" , but a commitment by those here and even in England to not only survive but live well. I read a great book by Dr. Esselstyn advocate the reversal of disease through diet. It works. Up in DC you see Michelle going on about diet and gardening as something desirable by all. Everyone spends big bucks on "diets" that generally fail in the long term while the cooking channel pushes rich, expensive foods. Groceries go up each week so few can even afford what is put out, so the waste goes to the dump out back. Everything is connected ...and on a wordwide basis. In the U.S. we spend tons on junk foods and sodas, health in the U.S. means more doctors, hospitals, medicines, so the pharmaceuticals grow wealthy, and the worldwide land use plan is to get more folks back to the cities and reclaim those public lands, while government grows, the people can't afford the classic "balanced diet" as costs rise and there is more and more waste both in expenditure from the top down and in terms of the waste stream. Of course government, city workers, and unions thrive on those areas, building mountains in communities with huge flames spewing like victory batons while the politicians talk of a lack of energy. Elsewhere, entire countries USE methane for vehicles and homes. Ah ..but such lovely mountains, besides, they cover what lies beneath that seeps into the aquifers and back to our rivers...but we don't need our oceans anyway. In a FEW cities with social consciousness the waste stream is sorted, filtered, separated..anything harmful removed , and toxic or poisonous elements never enter. There , responsible, professional composting is done and it works for everyone. Oh yeah, the cost would be HUGE, the cost of disassembling the systems that build the mountains, the lining of pockets, the waste of welfare and food stamps. By durn, to build a raised bed from anything like alternative sources like the concrete and fiberglass, aluminum, or even composite woods would just have to be astronomical....well at least a few dollars...but then you would be giving folks hope while taking money from the BIG BOYS who really deserve it. Imagine how much organic matter gets buried every day. NAW, we need a system where the dole rules and everyone NOT on that list doesn't deserve fresh food anyway! Increasingly, even the middle classes are doing there best to make it week to week. With even a couple grow boxes, safe compost, and a little guidance so much could be done.