A recent urge to go back to our roots seems to be sweeping the planet, initially triggered by the economic crisis that’s ravaging the world, the need to grow our own food has begun to take more and more room in our everyday lives as we try to become less and less dependent on department store grown fruits and vegetables.
For instance, this summer, residents of Drummondville Quebec Mr. Beauchamp -which ironically is French for “nice field”- and Mrs. Landry, had a feud with city hall. They had requested and been granted permission to plant produce in their front yard, which is weird because like most people, I plant mine in the backyard.
In June the city sent them a first warning to remove the plants but by then, the garden was already huge, and quite beautiful so the couple refused and were being threatened with fines that ranged from 100~300$ per day past July 1st. The story went worldwide and eventually the city gave up and allowed the couple to keep their garden.
Another Alberta man was fined by the city for keeping four hens in an enclosure within his backyard in the suburbs of Calgary. All he wanted were fresh eggs. Heck, I want fresh eggs from homegrown hens. I could name the hens after infamous provincial politicians, and when they’re done producing eggs, they’d both be cuddly and nutritious as I’d make a delightful chicken and bacon roast, but I digress.
So with that in mind, a German architect and ecologist Charlotte Dieckmann designed an interior garden that allows people to grow their own produce, compost and water it. Reuse, recycle…eat.
I like it but I don’t think I’d want an IKEA vermiculture in my kitchen.
