2010 Diary week 13

 

The garden

Pruning of olive trees was completed this week. Rather than burn the prunings I used as much as possible for fire wood and kindling and composted the remainder.  We bought a new chipper and turned a mountain of olive cuttings into wonderful mulch for the garden.  It is under many trees and also in the new patio just outside the studio.  Makes that parched soil feel very cool and moist.

Book Review

Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last? points out that “water scarcity is now the single biggest threat to global food production.” “Many of the insidious threats that undermined ancient irrigation civilizations – including salt, silt, neglect of infrastructure, regional conflict, and unexpected climatic change – are rearing their ugly heads.” “Per capita irrigated area peaked in 1978 and has fallen 5% since then. By 2020, per capita irrigated area will likely be 17-28% below the 1978 peak. Irrigation has reached the point of diminishing returns.” “Between 1951 and 1985, Israel expanded its irrigated area fivefold with only a threefold increase in water use. Output per cubic meter nearly tripled and the value of output (in real terms) jumped 10-fold. Israel is the only nation that appears to have done what the world needs to do over the next 30-40 years – double water productivity in agriculture.” “Climate change on the scale that scientists are projecting for the next century adds a whole new dimension to the food and water challenge. History shows that climate wild cards can overwhelm a seemingly advanced society’s ability to cope.”