Recently, our family experienced the joy of welcoming a new addition. The anticipation leading up to this moment was palpable as we closely monitored its growth and development. And then, suddenly, it appeared in our kitchen – a vibrant orange pumpkin, peculiarly shaped and about the size of my head. While I was thrilled to see it, I must confess that I cannot take credit for its cultivation. That honor belongs to my wife, Pat, who diligently nurtured the pumpkin plant, diverting its energy solely towards the production of this unique beauty. Accompanying it was a moderately productive tomato plant, and we even managed to obtain a couple of chilies from a small seedling gifted by a lunch guest. In that moment, we felt like the Tom and Barbara Good of our neighborhood.
For a while, we deliberated on what to do with this magnificent pumpkin. The idea of carving it into a Halloween lantern crossed our minds, but as our children are now adults, we have opted out of the tradition of supplying neighborhood kids with sugar in exchange for sparing our door knockers from relentless pounding. The absence of a pumpkin on our porch goes unnoticed in our area. So, we considered roasting or even pickling it.
But mostly, we marveled at its beauty. Two thoughts struck me, one of which was rather obvious. However, due to my cynicism and dreary disposition, it caught me off guard. Growing our own food at home is an incredible experience. It captivates our attention and transforms any outdoor space into something not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. And the second thought? It’s an incredibly inefficient way to produce fruits and vegetables. Absolutely dreadful. The amount of effort devoted to cultivating that single pumpkin was hilariously disproportionate.
Does this mean I believe people should refrain from growing their own produce? Quite the opposite. We must constantly remind ourselves of the immense challenge of feeding a large population and acknowledge the remarkable job that large-scale agriculture accomplishes. The best way to appreciate this is by attempting to replicate it on a smaller scale at home. Of course, there will be individuals with flourishing allotments and thriving vegetable patches who may disagree. Just because the Rayner family struggles doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In fact, it must be wonderful to regularly enjoy a meal nurtured and harvested by one’s own hands. However, from an environmental standpoint, it doesn’t quite measure up.
A decade ago, during my work on a book about food and sustainability, I was introduced to the concept of whole life cycle analysis (LCA). Employing LCA means that when discussing the environmental impact of food production, we cannot solely consider fertilizers and transportation. We must also account for the carbon emissions from tools, machinery, fencing, irrigation, and even the lifestyles of those involved. Did you drive to the allotment? Ah, that factors into the equation as well, considering the yield.
Consequently, even the most productive home gardens will never be able to rival the output of large-scale farming operations. Nevertheless, this should not absolve the worst practices of industrial agriculture. Avoiding the extremes in such discussions is important for progress.
The reality is that feeding a population of over 60 million will always depend on mass agriculture, which, if done correctly, has a greater chance of achieving carbon efficiency. Interestingly, one effective way to understand and appreciate the challenges faced by large-scale agriculture is by attempting to grow significant quantities of food ourselves. We certainly plan to give it another shot next year. It will be both magnificent and laughable. By the way, we transformed our pumpkin into a delicious soup. It was delightful.
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