LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

In the future gardeners will be planting less flowering annuals as these need more water than drought tolerant perennials. This photo was taken at Coburg Garden Centre, a retail plant nursery

The agave is now a very popular drought tolerant plant used in home gardens and in landscaping. There are many forms and species of agave available in nurseries. This photo was taken at Coburg Garden Centre, a retail plant nursery

These drought tolerant trees from Australia will become more popular in the future due to their low water needs. This photo was taken at Coburg Garden Centre, a retail plant nursery

Citrus trees are very attractive and have popular fruits, but require a lot of water in summer. This photo was taken at Coburg Garden Centre, a retail plant nursery

Global Warming

We are told the world is warming and climatic conditions are becoming more erratic. This is bound to have a profound impact on how we manage any rural enterprise. Predicted increases in extremes of temperature, wind and rainfall mean we will need to plan for possible changes far in advance in order to avoid serious physical and financial losses on the farm.

The plant nursery industry is already adapting to drier conditions with an increased production of drought tolerant plants such as cacti and succulents. Growers of plants with a high moisture requirement, such as ferns, are experiencing a significant decline in demand for these products.

Increased Popularity In Bio-Fuel

We are all much more aware of the need to reduce our “carbon footprint”. Enterprising farmers may be able to adapt and thrive in the future if capital is directed towards renewable forms of energy production. A hobby farmer who develops a surplus of electricity from wind or solar sources is able to sell the surplus electrical production to the energy utilities. Growing crops for bio-fuel production is likely to increase in popularity in the future. Small-scale farm bio-digesters that produce methane gas from organic materials can lead to self-sufficiency regarding fuel for vehicles.

Storing Carbon In Vegetation

The issue of carbon credits looks set to become an accepted way to control the output of greenhouse gases throughout the world. The task of re-vegetating part of the farm will become more attractive if payments can be received for storing carbon in vegetation. No doubt imaginative farmers will come up with more creative ways to store carbon. For example, some farmers are experimenting with ways to store carbon in the soil in the form of charcoal.

Hobby farmers are also in a good position to produce fresh food and so avoid fluctuations in prices due to climate considerations. Producing food that has not been transported long distances to market is also a good way to reduce the output of carbon dioxide and a relatively easy way to reduce one’s carbon footprint.

Future Hobby Farming Enterprises

Future enterprises will have to deal with erratic rainfall and be prepared to capture and store runoff after a downpour. Recycling and treatment of grey-water and sewerage will probably become commonplace as a means of ensuring water security. Once water security has been achieved on the farm, half of the battles for survival will have been won!

The future is bound to bring many difficult challenges, but I believe the hobby farmer will be in a very good position to come up with sustainable solutions to these challenges.