OT: California freeze - ThinnerTimes

LisaBoston · 01-18-2007, 10:27 AM

I don't know if most of you get the same news that we do in Canada, but here everyone is freaking out about the freezing weather in California and how its going to affect our prices and availability of produce. They say we may not even see avocado's or strawberries and what we do get will be 3 times the price. Anything that grows above the ground has been damaged and that anything grown in a greenhouse will just up the price due to supply and demand.

The cucumbers right now are $3.74 each, if it goes up over $10 that would be crazy.

I guess its a good thing we eat a whole lot less!!

eyesthatkissu · 01-18-2007, 10:30 AM

Poor you! Yes everything is freezing yes everyone will pay more for produce that comes from Cali... but how weird is it that is snowed... yes SNOWED in Malibu!!!!!!!!!!

Tawanda · 01-18-2007, 10:36 AM

Lisa,

I took a Master Gardener class last year and I discovered that you can buy relatively cheap miniature greenhouses...like 4x4x6...and set them up outside even in our colder climates. Our instructor grows peppers, cukes, tomatoes, carrots, and even herbs all winter long. I don't know if you get into gardening at all, but this is going to be my option. I'm sick of expensive, artifically enhanced and chemically altered veggies, anyway.

Check this out: http://www.greenhousekit.com/sunshinepatio.htm

The best part? NO WEEDING!!!! Yay!!!!

(Love your pic, btw! You are looking HOT! And congrats on being so close to goal!)

coptergirl · 01-18-2007, 10:44 AM

I refuse to mive from my spot at my desk because I am practically sitting on my space heater!! I just can't get warm in all this darned cold weather

Maybe I am being prepped for (gag) Buffalo!

LisaBoston · 01-18-2007, 11:00 AM

It SNOWED in Malibu!!! Oh my. Tawna, great ideas. Actually I do have a greenhouse and grow a lot of our vegetables. Sad thing is that we get frost in late Aug, early Sept and can't plant anything in our greenhouse until about May - and thats with a heater running in there! We have tomatoes started in the house already, cucumbers start in 4 weeks and peppers too. Both my husband and I love to plant stuff (tons of flowers too) and we fight over taking care of the greenhouse - we both want to take control...but its a fun fight! One of my new fav's is beet tops. I have always loved beets, but recently started eating the tops and are they ever good. Hopefully soon I can start BBQing too.

Tawna - many people here have wood stoves in their greenhouse to keep it warm and they still can only grow for about 7 months max! Oh the sacrafices we make living in the north!

JenBear7 · 01-18-2007, 03:02 PM

Wow! thats a short growing season.. for greenhouses!

My mother (who is losing weight the old fashioned way right now.. YAY!!).. and I were talking, and we plan on planting a garden next year.. its been a while since we have done it.. but gardening burns gobs of calories (cant remember exactly how many off the top of my head)..

Has to suck for Malibu... (Isnt that where Barbie is from??)... I bet they freaked out! Its always weird when Mother Nature mixes things up a little bit... I live in the snow belt.. (upstate NY).. and looking out my window.. I can see grass.. (there is a dusting of snow, but.. I CAN see grass... ) Blows my mind!

Lets hope we dont all pay for this in the summer with fires & hurricanes & tornados... the winter catastrophes seem quicker to recover from..

eyesthatkissu · 01-18-2007, 03:16 PM

I love that you guys are growing your own food.... YAY for organic! LOL I grow some of my own herbs, but had no room for a vegtable garden. Well no room that the dog didn't have access too.

I sure hope this wacky weather is not a precursor to more tornadoes and stuff.... ick!

Jennimaria · 01-18-2007, 03:30 PM

I work for Albertsons grocery stores in the ad. dept. and the produce guy said the costs are going to skyrocket and they may not be able to get certain types of produce at all.

BethBaugh · 01-18-2007, 05:52 PM

I've always wanted to take a master gardeners class. I'm married to and gave birth to a vegetarian. Boy or boy do I love to plant my garden. and my costs are like 1/4 of what they are in the winter trying to feed these produce lovers. Thanks goodness I just got over my cravings for grapefruit. Citrus is not a TN crop.

I usually grow way too many tomatos, green peppers, banana peppers, potatos, corn, onions, summer squash, eggplants, chard, spinach, okra, cucumbers, zuchini, spaghetti squash, and strawberries along with my herbs. I miss my garden. Well soon I'll be starting some seed indoors.

Beth B. in TN

Duckie · 01-18-2007, 06:08 PM

I laughed out loud when I saw the snow in Malibu. Must suck though. We are actually getting our FIRSt SNOW right now. It's slippery as hell right now.