Climate Zones & A Gardeners Planting Calendar
Arbor Day Foundation map of climate zones.
Greetings! As you begin to think about planting, a topic that will eventually arise regards climate zones. Unbeknownst to much of the population, the climate zone maps have been a political hot topic. A new one had been released by the USDA but then retracted almost immediately by the Bush administration. The Arbor Day Foundation put out their own in 2006, which is the one that I reference here. Thank you goes to the Arbor Foundation for allowing me the use of this map in the production of the Gardeners Planting Calendar!
The USDA map has been updated, but not before many avid gardeners caught on to the fact that something was amiss with growing conditions changing and the USDA map remaining the same. My short brush with fame, meeting Michael Pollan in Indianapolis included him asking me if I was on the committee which was addressing this issue. I had to graciously say that I was not, but was very aware through my own experiences how important is the recognition of climate change for our food supply. During World War II home gardens produced approximately 40% of all food grown for our nation. Home gardens and the blooming of the urban agriculture movement can accomplish this, and more, again.
I hope that this calendar provides you with the beginning steps into the world of beautiful and healthful food!
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