RE: Reflections: Permaculture, Food Forests, and "Back to Eden!"
I'll have to check out some of the other authors you recommend. In my case, I'm only interested in people writing about the Korean or Ontario climate. Although the desert, subtropics or rainforest is interesting, I'll probably never have a farm there and cannot relate to even gardening in that climate.
First I need land though and a good financial security base. I'm on the right track though few more critical decisions to make, then I can establish a real plan when it's done.
Regarding Conronavirus, Koreans are very worried about it. The biggest group of foreigners here by far is the Chinese. China is the biggest trading partner, too. Also, they were just getting over a virtual Chinese boycott (they installed a THAAD anti-missile defense system here) and Chinese tourists just started coming back. There is an election in 3 months here and people want Chinese tourists banned which will hit the economy and upset China. However, populism is more important for politicians.
We already have a lot of masks because of the pollution and people are well educated on this sort of stuff, but some people still want to avoid going out in public. I think it will explode here next week and we will see hundreds of sick people by Valentine's Day. I have a trip to Japan then and I'm worried I won't be able to go. Let's see.
Yes, excellent point @abitcoinskeptic, although I have learned that there are "universal" concepts associated with this new way of looking at gardening, which I can learn from wherever they are being practiced. As an example, I think the videos of @gardeningchannel are hard to beat ..
That said, I have made an effort to find similar content linked to my growing zone. The closest I have come, so far, is an Institute way up in the Rocky Mountains, which takes me from one extreme to the other. Very impressive to see what this group did to overcome the limitations of trying to grow everything in abundance at those altitudes (like build a 6-figure USD greenhouse, which all the latest energy sources ...), but ... Not realistic for every day needs.
Back to @gardeningchannel, he stresses just getting "out there," observing carefully, try things, then adjust as your "journey" progresses. Great advice, from my perspective ...
From all I understand, the Koreans have valid reasons for concern. If not familiar with this account, I would encourage you to read this post from a Steemian who produces excellent content. This one is on this subject.
Here, closer to home, I am not so concerned in our little town out West. At least for the moment. However ... We leave Thursday for Chicago, one of the busiest airports on the planet, to attend a graduation ceremony for a family member ...
And ... Our stock market has tanked dramatically in just the last two days. Taking a significant chunk of my retirement funds with it. Having long read that the so-called "smart money" supposedly knows in advance about things the "little" people [like me ...] don't, it is another indicator this is serious.
Given how highly contagious this virus is reported to be, I wouldn't imagine we have long to find out.
That looks like a great channel and his stuff doesn't look way over priced either (some Korean company won an award at CES for the most expensive indoor hydroponics systems I've ever seen).
The situation is getting worse here. It's still far, far below the problems in China. However, Korea is bringing back 700 people from Wuhan area (they'll even take people who have the flu) and anyone living near the quarantine centers for those people are understandably upset.
We also had the stock market tank, although I would expect this to be mostly short term movement by the regular speculators. I think your money will be fine within a couple of months when the virus runs its course. People are being extra vigilant now.
Let's hope for the best which would be ending with a whimper.