[Genevieve]

As a long time gardener and earth mother i can entirely relate to your idea about involving the kids Kimmie.

To anyone wanting to realise what is possible on a small piece of land i invite you to research Permaculture (also in another thread on here)

There is a wealth of information out there for anyone wanting to at least START growing their own food. All it takes is that first step.

I love your idea of composting ... My advice is even if you can't donate it to someone at least find ONE square metre of open soil - dig a hole and BURY it. Feed the soil. Give it back what you took from it. Granted it will still go back to the soil as landfill but who wants to go plant a corn crop on their local rubbish tip?

If nothing else - try this little experiment. Anytime you peel a potato (assuming you do and it doesnt come prepackaged!!! lol) Dig a hole in your backyard, verge, lift up a paver - and bury the peels
fill the hole in and i promise you within a year with absolutely no other intervention you will be suprised how many potatoes are growing deep down there! My kids have done this all over various spots in our newish garden (2 years old) and just LOVE digging down to reveal yummie new potatoes completely for free!! Potatoes are a great source of concentrated carbohydrate - take up little space and are relatively hardy. They also store well via clamping.

My other passion is "Heritage Plants" those that have proved to be reliable over a long long time and are not hybridised either so they will produce viable seeds that you can collect each year and resow over and over again. Save the seeds from the plant that was the absolute BEST of the crop that season and you are effectivley culturing your own BEST variation of that crop pertinent to your own soil, climate and environment. Simple but true.

If i can inspire one person to grow one thing in their life and experience the joy of eating something you helped to grow - then i am a happy person!!

Enjoy !!!