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The Return of the Milkman

modernfarmer.com

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Re: The Return of the Milkman

#21

Post by lostlogin »

gcheong wrote: post #18
seesawtron wrote: post #12

Have people also started growing vegetables and herbs at home as their creative projects? Unfortunately basics of agricultural farming are not part of school curriculum. I wonder if that was so at some point in the past. Wouldn't it be so great if everyone of us knew the basics of farming like we know basic maths? It could in theory result in growing more plants (good for environment), getting some fresh vegetables o…

I have a garden but dealing with bugs and weeds limits my enthusiasm for planting crops outdoors and so in addition to just growing a few things outside I’ve also been growing things in our AeroGarden and am experimenting with Kratky style hydroponics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kratky_method .

This can be helped (but not solved) by sticking to a few basic things that grow well in your climate. As soon as I try something that is borderline the amount of work requires goes way up.

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#22

Post by seesawtron »

gcheong wrote: post #18
seesawtron wrote: post #12

Have people also started growing vegetables and herbs at home as their creative projects? Unfortunately basics of agricultural farming are not part of school curriculum. I wonder if that was so at some point in the past. Wouldn't it be so great if everyone of us knew the basics of farming like we know basic maths? It could in theory result in growing more plants (good for environment), getting some fresh vegetables o…

I have a garden but dealing with bugs and weeds limits my enthusiasm for planting crops outdoors and so in addition to just growing a few things outside I’ve also been growing things in our AeroGarden and am experimenting with Kratky style hydroponics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kratky_method .

good luck mate. looks interesting

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#23

Post by datavirtue »

gcheong wrote: post #18
seesawtron wrote: post #12

Have people also started growing vegetables and herbs at home as their creative projects? Unfortunately basics of agricultural farming are not part of school curriculum. I wonder if that was so at some point in the past. Wouldn't it be so great if everyone of us knew the basics of farming like we know basic maths? It could in theory result in growing more plants (good for environment), getting some fresh vegetables o…

I have a garden but dealing with bugs and weeds limits my enthusiasm for planting crops outdoors and so in addition to just growing a few things outside I’ve also been growing things in our AeroGarden and am experimenting with Kratky style hydroponics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kratky_method .

It is really easy to deal with moisture retention, weeds, and pests. Check out back to Eden and companion planting. It works.

I'm an experienced hydroponic grower and outdoor gardener that had given up for the same reasons. Hydroponics is an excessive amount of labor though it yeilds well and is good indoors.

Back to Eden was a revelation (more like Duh!!) for me and outdoor gardening has been much easier and much more profitable.

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#24

Post by seesawtron »

I have also seen people going to local farms to pick their own fruits and vegetables. This is because of the lack of workers who were not allowed to travel during the harvest season because of border restrictions in Germany. Not sure if that's good for the workers in the long run.

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#25

Post by analog31 »

seesawtron wrote: post #12

Have people also started growing vegetables and herbs at home as their creative projects? Unfortunately basics of agricultural farming are not part of school curriculum. I wonder if that was so at some point in the past. Wouldn't it be so great if everyone of us knew the basics of farming like we know basic maths? It could in theory result in growing more plants (good for environment), getting some fresh vegetables o…

We expanded our backyard garden. Getting things to plant has been an effort, since we didn't want to go into the garden stores. We found some seeds at the supermarket, which are turning out to not be very fertile. Our biggest challenge is dealing with the growing season in Wisconsin, which requires starting things indoors.

Next year we'll know to research things sooner, and we'll figure out where to find things like the right kinds of disease resistant varieties.

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#27

Post by stellar678 »

seesawtron wrote: post #12

Have people also started growing vegetables and herbs at home as their creative projects? Unfortunately basics of agricultural farming are not part of school curriculum. I wonder if that was so at some point in the past. Wouldn't it be so great if everyone of us knew the basics of farming like we know basic maths? It could in theory result in growing more plants (good for environment), getting some fresh vegetables o…

I finally figured out how to keep a supermarket basil plant alive, how to promote new growth and slow down flowering.

And I've also succeeded at rooting and planting it - so now I have 5 supermarket basil plants!

It's really gratifying - but my windowsill definitely won't be enough to grow the amount of herbs I'd like to consume. Perhaps I'll have to take my new knowledge to the back yard.

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#28

Post by enumjorge »

nxc18 wrote: post #17

This is wonderful, and with the advent of the internet/easy telecommunication, it would be great to be able to order additional things as part of the delivery. I'm particularly interested in the reduction of packaging waste that this would enable. I've got a local jam maker who creates truly wonderful products. She delivers and also can re-use jars; its one or two steps away from being a milkman type deal. Farmers ma…

I agree that our current situation might mean the milkman model is relevant again, and it would be interesting to see how tech could assist!

But if I see some VC-backed startup try to do “gig economy for milk” I swear to god...

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#29

Post by swimfar »

stellar678 wrote: post #27
seesawtron wrote: post #12

Have people also started growing vegetables and herbs at home as their creative projects? Unfortunately basics of agricultural farming are not part of school curriculum. I wonder if that was so at some point in the past. Wouldn't it be so great if everyone of us knew the basics of farming like we know basic maths? It could in theory result in growing more plants (good for environment), getting some fresh vegetables o…

I finally figured out how to keep a supermarket basil plant alive, how to promote new growth and slow down flowering. And I've also succeeded at rooting and planting it - so now I have 5 supermarket basil plants! It's really gratifying - but my windowsill definitely won't be enough to grow the amount of herbs I'd like to consume. Perhaps I'll have to take my new knowledge to the back yard.

Are you doing something like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD9CIQ7ynOc

I heard about it recently and want to try it out next time I get a basil plant.

Re: The Return of the Milkman

#30

Post by disillusioned »

Our local dairy (https://www.danzeisendairy.com/) just started this and my wife jumped on it as quickly as possible. They've already been selling milk in glass bottles since they started selling through grocery stores here about three years ago, with deposits, but now since pandemic, they've expanded to include home delivery routes, and it's pretty great.

We can get eggs and milk and bottled cold brew and other goodies delivered on a bi-weekly basis. Since we're in Phoenix, they just have us leave out a cooler out front with ice packs in it the night before (since their delivery window is 4a-8:30a). Our old house had a milk door, but sadly our new (1921, but new to us) house does not.

Still pretty nice way to support the local operation!

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