Just like all things, the sun has cycles too. We have periods where the sun is very active with solar flares arcing miles into space, sun spots that may cause global cooling, and what we’re facing now – a solar minimum.
What is a Solar Minimum?
Usually, sun cycles are around 11 years in length. I never paid much attention to them. It’s not my job to worry about the sun. I’ve gardened all my life. I poke seeds or seedlings into the ground, water them and expect the sun to shine. And it does, whether there’s a minimum or not.
But now, some physicists are saying that the current solar minimum will last until 2070, which is why it’s being called a Grand Solar Minimum.
I don’t know anything about this. I don’t garden with this in mind. Like I said, I’m not in charge of the sun.
But let’s say that a Grand Solar Minimum is real, that it’s going on right now, and that it is affecting crops worldwide.
Let’s also say that recent volcanic activity has shot debris so high in the atmosphere that it will take decades for it to finally dissipate. That’s two black marks against the sun shining enough to provide adequate crop yields. But I can’t do anything about volcanoes either, so I don’t concern myself with them.
Then, closer to home, we have a maniac called Bill Gates who seems to be at war with planet earth. Among other things, he’s using chem. trails – specially designed chemicals released from aircraft jet engines – to dim the sun.
As an aside, jet engines burn clean. There are no “vapor trails” that are expelled from them. If you see a stream of white following an aircraft, it has been manufactured to exist. It is not a natural part of the jet engine design. These expulsions are being used for various purposes, sun-dimming being only one.
How Does This Affect Our Gardens?
In one word, “poorly.” Watch the video The Dimming for further review. Crop yields will be down as a result. In fact, that has already started. Last year I grew an exceptional garden. I needed to, because I took the video seriously. I wanted to do two things as a result of my extensive garden. I wanted to know how much food I could grow in my tiny trailer-park plots (I have gardens tucked into numerous places on this lot). And I wanted to see the results of this year’s bounty, since the solar dimming is now in full swing, according to the video.
My results: I’ve grown tomatoes every single year. I know by now that I need at least eight plants for both my husband and myself to be able to can enough for the year. Last year my eight plants weren’t enough. That was surprising. Green beans did poorly too. Onions were smaller, although green onions produced a bumper crop. Both pumpkins and squash were smaller. I realized that if I were depending on this trailer park lot for my food, I would not survive.
I wonder if that isn’t the plan.
Well, this year I intend to plant double up on tomatoes and green beans. Both those take up little space because I plant pole beans and vine tomatoes. I’m also going to experiment with new places for pumpkin, squash and carrots. I’m going to concentrate on green onions, with a plan to dehydrate them for the coming winter.
In addition, I need to grow plenty of herbs for making medicines, because I have a feeling that this coming year my neighbors will need lots of immune-boosters and herbal alternatives.
The following year I’ll probably need to teach gardening classes as well.
What are you planning to do for yourself and your neighbors this coming year?
gardening, groceries, herbs, life, living, survival