We talk alot about local food production, but here in New Mexico, as in much of the world, we have cold winters and hot dry summers; so if we want to move to local food production, we are going to need a lot of greenhouses. So where are they? Greenhouses, after all, are not space-age technology, like photovoltaics, yet they capture sunlight and warmth and retain humidity with great efficiency. Amory Lovins, who spoke in Santa Fe last week, grows bananas at 2200 meters in his Rocky Mountain greenhouse.
Let's imagine the residential dwelling of the future: with a lean-to greenhouse on the southern exposure, and solar photovoltaic energy production. A home that produces energy and food for it's occupants. Why not?
I live in Tennessee right now but am planning to move to New Mexico for exactly this reason when I get out of the military. There are many crops which are suitable for greenhouse production, photovoltaic generated power in the Southwest is much like oil in the Middle East, it's a huge resource (unfortunately as yet untapped, though). Hydro/aeroponic cultivation reduces the water requirements of agriculture. Israelis use drip irrigation to turn large swathes of desert green with crops. New Mexico has the opportunity to be the quintessential 21st century state with an agricultural industry based on these techniques and new industries based on cutting edge technologies and social trends, like the civilian exploration of space from the spaceport there. With a strong background in 21st century agriculture, the people of New Mexico will be poised to use those techniques to cultivate food not just here on Earth, but also in the great beyond.
ReplyDeleteThat's great Mathew- I think you are spot on-
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