[Pil-pc-oceania] REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Garden productivity

[pacific-edge]

The following message is forwarded for Ted Trainer:

>>> Ted Trainer <F.Trainer at unsw.edu.au> 23/04/2007 1:45 pm >>>

Re: Gardening time inputs,  yields?

I would appreciate some figures or estimates from gardeners, individual or
communal, re the time it takes to produce how much food.  Does anyone know
of research giving us some conclusions?

My impression from e.g., Clive Blazey's work at Diggers Seeds is that
miracles can be worked; re small areas required, and also re person-hours
per week, but I don't have good figures.

We need to be able to convince people that the alternative way is not about
dawn to dusk labouring in the fields to barely survive.

I have no doubt that home and collective gardening, plus small local farms
and Permacultured commons can provide food etc. abundance within small
settlements, on a few hours input per person per week, but if I had some
firm numbers or even estimates from experience re how much time produces how
much stuff, I would be in a better position to put a convincing case.

Thanks

Ted Trainer