Waste not, want not.
There was a time, not all that long ago, either, when that was a watch-word in our society.
Children were encouraged to finish the food that was good for them, told that there were starving children in Europe, China, Africa — depending on what sub-generation they were from — who would be glad to have it. And they weren’t encouraged to smart off, suggesting that their plate be airmailed to the needy kids, either.
You just didn’t waste.
We were too close to the Great Depression to joke about it.
Now, in the days of the Great Recession — it’s over, by the way, in case your paycheck didn’t indicate the matter — in this day, Americans are starting to remember those days.
An example came from Kalamazoo.
That’s right. From Ka-la-ma-zoo, oh what a way they found to use all of their resources — those who don’t get the reference, check out Glenn Miller’s Orchestra.
Anyway, Kalamazoo in Bloom is the name of a group that spruced up their business district with planting this year, including a boodle of sweet potatoes, planted for their vines.
Funny thing is, when they came to clean up the flower beds, they found they had a bumper crop of taters.
They started in harvesting and came up with some 70 pounds of produce, which was donated to the Kalamazoo Deacons Conference to go to needy families.
But their inadvertent success raises an interesting idea.
What is the chance that we could build on this happy accident?
What are the chances that communities around the nation could make use of public plantings to produce food for needy people?
One of the officials are Kalamazoo in Bloom suggested: “People got the pleasure of the pretty leaves all summer long, and those in need get something to eat for the fall.”
Imagine what could be done with potato plantings around the nation.
It wouldn’t fill in all year, but it might be a start.
Like they used to say: Waste not, want not.
America has seen enough want.
It’s time to cut back on the waste.
— Chuck Smith