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Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” Written by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to George Washington about three centuries ago.
According to Peoria magazine, this quote is as relevant today as it was in the 1700s.
I totally agree.
All concerned citizens want it to be well with their country..
It's okay to criticise the government but as individuals and groups; what can we do to alleviate some of the hardships especially the basic ones such as food?
We can grow what we can - it won't solve all the food problems but it will reduce the desperation. Desperate people cannot criticise constructively.
Desperate people do desperate things that would in the end worsen the situation for themselves or for others. They would thereby bring shame on themselves or serious punitive consequences.
Some weeks ago I went to Iyana Ipaja and wanted to cross over to the other side of the express. I saw this well-constructed overhead pedestrian bridge nearby and approached it. It was around 5pm and the day was still bright but I noticed no one was taking the bridge. They were crossing the expressway. I asked about three people if the pedestrian bridge was okay and opened for use. They said yes.
So I began taking the steps up slowly to be sure the bridge was not in disrepair. The bridge was in good condition. I ascended and walked across.
When I almost reached the other side with steps I could descend, I saw the reason people were avoiding the bridge. There were four youths - two sitting on one step around the middle of the stairway and another two sitting on the next lower step.
They were smoking whatever as I could see smoke oozing over their heads. There was a fifth youth leaning on the rail towards the base of the bridge stairway and looking up.
He was likely the one giving them information as to whoever was coming as the other four were backing the top.
So, was I to go back? If I turned back; even if I ran through the walkway, before getting to the other side to descend the steps; they would catch up with me.
But I was not even afraid. Rather than fear; what I felt was righteous anger - a government of my country constructed a nice; solid bridge still in good condition and people are afraid to use it because of some idiots!
I decided I was not going to turn back, quickly took some security measures to ensure they wouldn't go free if they tried anything criminal (which I won't mention now) and walked boldly to the stairway and started descending confidently.
The fifth youth looked at me in shock as I descended the steps and ran off the lower end of the bridge out of sight. When I got to middle of the stairway; I had decided that if they blocked my path; I would kick them.
Fortunately for them they left enough space for me to pass through. I got to the base of the bridge; looked back at them and shook my head and went in my way.
Why was I so annoyed? Those ones would say it's because they are hungry/have no work that they are constituting themselves into societal nuisance or menace. But there are definitely opportunities somewhere nearby or far to do some work - at least farming.
If it is far off such as a bushy or forest area; they would claim there's insecurity - that fierce people may attack them. But these youths smoking hemps around neighbourhoods and roads are also fierce, not so? So why don't they use their fierceness to fight off those that would pose insecurity to their farms?
They prefer to threaten law-abiding people who also have their challenges but just managing as best as they could? Do those misbehaving think they are too good to farm? Or is it laziness that is their problem?
These days no matter how much money you have, the reality is that you get to buy lesser and lesser quantities of food even with higher amount.
The immediate response would be that the government is to blame. I don't disagree o but anyone who is crazy to do crazy things to fellow citizens who also have their own challenges should just know craze is not exclusive to them.
Some gentle law-abiding citizens have better; more potent; well organised craze in store to counteract those of senseless people and make them face dire consequences. It is just matter of time. So those misbehaving because things are hard had better be careful.
Back to farming matters; I was pricing some foodstuffs over the weekend and still couldn't help getting shocked at the high prices of leafy vegetables like spinach - efo soko; scent leaves -basil and water leaf.
Do you know what helped decreased the pressure at that moment was the realisation that I could plant the stalks in my mini-garden?
I had harvested almost all those vegetables I had in my mini-garden - some were eaten by the two chickens I am raising - so no wonder I am harassing the chickens to start laying eggs (see video). It's okay to pressure animals to born for our selfish aims but not okay to pressure humans on that o!
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#minigardening #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#intercroppinginsoilsack.
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