So... Our future food shortage -

[Pearce Pastures]

I see what you mean about the large animal use and there is some truth to the the amount of energy required to produce say beef compared to a goat.

That said, while I mostly eat chicken and now goat, I order a steer for processing once a year and I would not want to give that up. Pig I could probably live without. If folks did turn to smaller meat producers though, the use of those animals would increase and I doubt very much that any significant impact would be made in the grand scheme of things.

And as far as completely organic and raising the all of the food you eat, I don't think most people have the time anymore that it would take to actually produce and preserve all of the food needed to rear a family, especially without the use of items that would make a garden technically organic. I like the idea of being less reliant on others for our food but there is no way that I could keep a full time job, raise a family, and maintain all of our food. Daily plant care, hand removal of insect or so-so organic treatments to prevent diseases and varmint damage. Nope. Balance is fine by me. Raise my veggies in the summer, can a bit, rear most of our meat---but buy what I can't reasonably produce myself at the store.

 

[babsbag]

Organic farming is TOUGH. While I applaud the idea and I practice it at home, I understand the farmers, who are dependent on the crop for a living, using chemicals. I hate it, but I understand it. And as I beekeeper, I REALLY hate it, but I still can see their side of the story. Most consumers would not buy the quality of produce that is grown without chemicals. And even organic farms are allowed certain chemicals, some of them I don't even have access to as a hobbyist.

Could I give up beef, sure. But what would the impact be on the economy if everyone gave up beef? I can't even fathom the far reaching implications of that industry going away.

My concern is not the land disappearing or being misused. My concern is water, really the lack of it, and what is happening to the ground water supply in the US.

 

[GD91]

Yes that was something else everyone keeps talking about - the groundwater carrying chemicals from the farming into lakes & rivers.

Apparently organic farming doesn't have such an issue since water has its ways of breaking down organic material.

Well, I can say that I live in an industrial area & there is only the tougher wildlife here - rats, foxes, blackbirds & woodpigeons.

Actually, I remember posting a thread on here about that... I think it was in the gardening section just remembered now, it was posted a while back.

At least with the smaller livestock people would be sparing more land - you would be using your garden after all. But I agree Pearce Pasture, it may not make a difference in the grand scheme of things except possibly more people may switch to the veggies.
After all - many people cannot be expected to eat that cute little bunny

I'm betting that 50% of the population would end up going vegan anyway

Oh, quick question:

Are veggies grown organically indoors healthier would you say? Or about the same as though they were grown outside?

Still doing my veggies but the rottweiler stole & ate all of me carrots stupid mutt.