2016, well I guess you are over now.
Now it is that time of year of back when I was a meathead/gym rat, that I loathed because there would be at least two weeks of (my) gym being full of New Year resolutions.
It never lasted more than two weeks.
Last year was the year of the pulses (legumes such as beans, peas and lentils). This labelling of 2016 was an attempt by the UN to encourage citizens of the Earth to eat more plant-based proteins and nutrients to reduce its carbon footprint.
What will 2017 bring, perhaps the year we as a nation start the path toward of self-sufficiency?
With the Donald being president of the USA and his lack of love for the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) along with his hatred of immigrants (regardless of both of his life partners), many of whom are imperative to the agriculture industry in which Canada derives most of its sustenance (think Mexican immigrant farm labour), it may be the year that Canada steps up its game in terms of food production.
I know we are planning to do so for the Prince George region.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the same plants that allowed settlers to survive during early colonization are still the same plants that seem to work well in our climate financially and sustainably. What this means is hot weather crops are a super premium and cold weather brassica (cabbage, broccoli, kale and collards), carrots, beets onions and spuds are the staple.
Now convincing the public that they should be eating just these products all winter is another story.
When grocery stores with giant, perfectly designed, elaborate displays of produce and fruits from Mexico, South America and China bound, it is hard to resist the biological urge to grab at this "fresh looking" produce and forego the regionally produced unexciting root crops and cabbage of winter which often can be more expensive than their imported vegetable display comrades.
The real issue here (and I am sure many older generations will agree) is that not many younger folks are willing to do the canning, dehydrating and processing of products grown locally to sustain them during winter.
We like to call it bottling up the local sunshine of summer for winter.
It is a time-consuming process but how many hours a day do most spend staring at a glowing LCD screen?
There is nothing like the satisfaction of having a well stocked larder in the basement thanks to several hours of canning after a season of growing and tending to plants.
Self-sufficiency just feels good.
Consider it banking and the larder is your bank account that you can draw upon during times of need.
On Dec 31st of 2016, it was reported that Russians hacked the Vermont power grid.
It appears the cold war is starting to warm up again.
With allegations of Russian hackers going after a power grid during winter, one should really start thinking about self preservation.
Water, food, heat and shelter are mighty important things.
I can only hope that it won't take a much larger wake-up call to the vulnerabilities of the public before action is taken.
