> When I grow my own fruit and vegies in the back yard, I don't need a
> tractor to pick it. The amount of food needed by a person for a week
> can be easily picked in a few minutes with our own body. More to the
> point, the stuff being picked is the "fuel" that drives our own
> body. This is the cycling of inputs and outputs that are typical of
> all sustainable systems in nature.
About 20 years ago I read of a study in the UK comparing the energy
efficiency of different methods of growing and supplying food. The
home garden/allotment came out on top. Unfortunately (but not
surprisingly) I cannot recall the reference - it may have been
reported in the New Scientist c 1976.
Peter Alspach
HortResearch
Riwaka Research Centre
R D 3 Phone +64-3-528 9106
Motueka FAX +64-3-528 7813
NEW ZEALAND Internet palspach@hort.cri.nz