It’s been known for quite some time that buying certain items can bring down the wrath of our busy-body government. Buy too many tablets of a head cold medicine and expect a a visit from some 3 letter agency or another is one of the current examples. Store too much gasoline? Meet the fire marshal. Run a business from home? The code enforcers would like a word with you. All well-intentioned and all increasingly onerous, at least to my way of thinking.
How about buying gardening supplies? I mean, you’re going to grow things, right? People have been gardening since forever, and some municipalities actually encourage it, making disused lets available for small scale urban agriculture. How would you feel if buying seeds or hand tools got you on the radar?
Let’s expand our green thumbs from the traditional to the more esoteric and ask about hydroponic gardening and supplies. Sure, there are people who buy them for illegal uses (we can discuss the concept of “But should it be illegal?” another time), but the vast majority of purchasers are not among that group. I can remember as a kid getting a huge Skillcraft Science Kit for Christmas and among all the goodies it had was a small setup for hydroponics. In the late 70s hydroponics was going to be one of the next big things, and while it will probably never beat dirt farming in popularity, it is highly useful in its niche, especially for those who like to garden year-round inside or who have limited space. Google for it and you’ll get an astounding array of products and knowledge on the subject. If you’re a suburban prepper on a small lot, hydroponics can be a great way to produce some of your own food, free from the chemicals and genetic manipulation that are taking over most of the foods from the grocery stores.
But if you live in Kansas, you might want to think twice before venturing into the waters of hydroponics.
Not much else to say, is there? Be careful out there.