Based on some threads and news of the hot spell this brings something really bad to mind, And this goes out to those who are under some delusional idea we can feed the whole world, considering we are showing signs of climate change, and this did happen in the 1930's during the Dust Bowl era, what happens if the world, and keep in mind it isn't just America getting hit HARD, what happens if we have another Dust bowl and suddenly we are in a long standing drought?

Now keep in mind back in the 1940s the world's populations BARELY exceeded one billion people and now we are over 6 times that number now! America actually grows a most of the food consumed in the world. We are lucky to be able to grow year round in over half this nation. South America can only offer a portion of production we can due to a number of factors like their rainy season is harder and longer. Chile is a surprising producer of agricultural goods as is Argentina. Brazil is not far behind but Chile has the most favorable conditions. Still, even they are feeling drought and for the first time in years the Amazon River was reduced to a trickle.

So what of mankind if we really do have a Dust Bowl happen to us again? Think our economy can survive that?

I think that movie is a little too prophetic...

Were like effing trododons!

Scientists have developed a substitute for gelatin made out of animals.
It's made from people.

that is certainly a sobering thought... yet one we'd better start seriously thinking about.

It *has* been predicted that there will be fighting and wars over water in the future.

While living in Toronto on a farm, we setup those 1000 liter totes to collect rainwater from the buildings, and transferred it all to the large in-ground pool. From there, it could be transferred out to the organic vegetable garden, and the fruit tree orchard we planted.

But that is just *one* farm. It's difficult to get others to change their habits and start to conserve what mother nature gives us.

*Others*??? I even had difficulty talking to *our own group* (that owned the property) of the merits of permaculture design techniques around the farm.

Everyone really needs to start thinking hard about this, because yes, it's going to affect us all... and soon.

You know, Andy, I had a similar thought about another Dust Bowl period.

Initially, my fear for this summer was that it would be very wet, and capped by a hurricane in New England. Such a combination would be disastrous for much of Connecticut, as it has been in the past. But now, everything is drying out after a very wet winter and spring. That's a good thing for us, since we haven't had real hurricane in 25 years. We've had a weak-side hurricane and one or two tropical storms since then, but nothing major. We usually have a major hurricane once every 30 years, so we're due for one.

When I think about the midwest, with the floods followed by the heat, I can't help but wonder though. First the loss of topsoil, and then a drought....without a decent growing season, the soil becomes nutrient-poor dust. The heat may kill existing vegetation, making the soil worse, and increasing the likelihood of erosion whether by wind or rain. Makes me think about how this could be the beginning of a new cycle.