Lou Murray's Green World

Oh bother, we just had another earthquake. This one was 2.7, but we were right on top of it. The epicenter was only a couple of miles away, so we definitely heard and felt it. A quick jolt, lots of rattling, no damage. We always wonder if that was all there was, or was that just a precursor to the “big one.” 

Earthquake map for California and Nevada, 4-19-2010

 That little red square off by itself on the coast of southern California is the quake that just happened.

 We can go years without feeling an earthquake, but the earth seems very active these days with big quakes in Chile, Baja, and China. Earthquake activity in Baja is continuing after the Easter quake (see map above), but we don’t feel them. Living in earthquake (or hurricane, or tornado, etc.) country means that we should always be prepared to get by for a week or two on our own before help arrives. We keep a water supply plus dried and canned food for emergencies.

This is a photo by Lucas Jackson for Reuters of the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

And how about that volcano in Iceland causing the worst disruption of air travel in history? I’m supposed to fly to Europe with my camera group soon, so I’m following that news anxiously. Hard to say whether we’ll actually be going or not. (Vic isn’t going because his class schedule conflicted with the dates of our trip. )

Satellite image of Iceland and volcanic eruption 4-19-2010

I suppose a silver lining to this ash cloud is that it will cool off the planet a bit and help offset global warming. This will buy us a couple more years time. But if we don’t reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions, the cooling will be temporary.

The volcanic dust will block some of the sunlight that would normally reach Europe and possibly Russia this spring. If the eruption continues, we may experience less sunlight here in the U.S. as well. I wonder if crops will be affected. If they are, then the cost of food will go up.

Life is uncertain. That is just one more reason why I garden and keep hens. I want at least the illusion of food security. I try to grow a wide variety of things that are planted at different times to hedge my bets. If one crop fails, perhaps a different variety or the same one planted at a different time will produce.

Wax beans, patty pan squash, eggplant and chard promise a good harvest.

The tiny bit of fruit and veggies that I’m able to grow won’t keep us from starving to death if a global crisis occurs, but it brings me comfort to know that I have at least some food in my yard. Our garden is a form of insurance, a hedge against natural (or unnatural) disasters and the vagaries of weather and climate.

For some fabulous photos of the Icelandic volcano and its affect on the surrounding countryside, visit http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html.