A while back, I went into the appropriate governmental office to file the necessary paperwork for the Eco-Ark's agricultural designation. I got a hard time from the department head for a number of reasons. First, he expected me to bulldoze the three acres of rain forest before planting. I had to actually get him to come out to the property to see for himself that the inconsistent and shallow soil would be entirely removed, leaving nothing but ripped and broken lava rock that would be as useful as a growing medium as a poured concrete slab. Another point of contention was that I had no intent to mono crop. My intent was instead to succeed.

There have been a few different blights on farmers on the islands over the last few years. Ring Spot virus attacked papaya orchards. Bunchy Top virus attacked banana plantations. And GMO papaya trees spread their pollen to fertilize organic papayas and many infiltrated organic farms were forced to rip out there contaminated trees for ethical reasons (Truth in advertising).

When you put "all your eggs in one basket" as the saying goes, it only takes one stroke of misfortune to wipe out everything you have been working toward. The more diverse and dispersed your palette, the slower a disease or infestation can spread.

Also, many food producing plants and trees limit their fruiting / harvest period to certain seasons of the year. Unless you plan on fasting, or eating canned peaches for six months per year, poly (many) cropping is by far the wisest choice. It also provides a variety of foods spread over a number of overlapping harvest periods. This allows us greater variety of fresh produce, more days in the year to enjoy the variety, and less chance that any one misfortune can wipe out everything.

The age of factory farming and shipping of food items over vast distances, has had a devastating effect on our awareness of our relationship to the natural world. Ask a child where their food comes from, and few will tell you "my back yard or farm". Most will say "The grocery store" and not think any further beyond that. Canned products are consumed for convenience, rather than surviving the off season.

But in an age of peak oil leading to higher shipping costs, and the possibility of Earth changes or political terrorism causing a breakdown in the transportation system, It appears the age of the NIMBY is over. It is time for the age of the FIMBY to be reborn. My (Foods In My Back Yard).