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How much water do almonds need? How much water in the US is used to grow almonds? How much water would be needed to grow weed for every man, woman, and child i

How much water do almonds need? How much water in the US is used to grow almonds? How much water would be needed to grow weed for every man, woman, and child in the US?

nothrabannosir 9y ago
If this is rhetorical, and you know the answers, do share. Because I have no idea. It sounds like you do? Additionally: why are those numbers relevant? Just for context?
- ceejayoz 9y ago
  Almonds are brought up because they take up 10% of California's water (https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-almonds https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-al...). A single almond takes 1.1 gallons of water (http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-californias-water-going/ http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-califo...) to produce. Any argument for limiting marijuana growing based on "it takes lots of water!" has to address why we already permit stuff like almonds to be grown in drought-prone areas.
  - nothrabannosir 9y ago
    Ok I can hardly compare “x litres per plant per day” vs “n gallons per almond”. How long does a plant live and how many “portions” does it have? I can guess almonds would be, say, a handful for a “portion”? So that’s.. how much in litres? See this is why I’m not super stoked about that original comment. Instead of making a clear point, I just get thrown some random hints and a “you go figure it out”. It’s like I’m supposed to make ones argument for them, and it might turn out to be completely irrelevant (maybe almonds are orders of magnitude more [e:less!] thirsty!) and then I can’t even reply because the actual argument was never made! Just give me the numbers. Do your own homework :) (well, not you, but op) (Edit: as someone else mentioned, this is assuming op was being rhetorical. If it’s a genuine q: I completely second it)
    - brianwawok 9y ago
      I know almonds take up a TON of water in an area without a ton of water. I do not really want to do the math, but if you are worried about the water usage of weed, I do implore you to first look up the water usage of almonds.
      - nothrabannosir 9y ago
        Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not keen to do the homework for your argument. [e: I’m not saying this to be petty, my point is this is not a strong argument. It’s a common occurrence, and a pet peeve of mine. I can imagine it feels right—in fact I also believe you are probably right! But were I of the opposite inclination, this wouldn’t convince me.]
        gknoy 9y ago
        I had thought that the high water use of California's Central Valley almond trees was something that was relatively widely known. I know I've encountered in in a variety of readings over the last couple of years, and I haven't been specifically trying to research it. This is something that has already been written about a fair amount; is it really fair to expect him to "do his homework" for the counter to your claim when it's based on what is, to some, common knowledge? Moreover, the poster that you had already replied to above included two links to articles about the cost (in water) of growing various things. If you feel the need to "check the numbers", I think the burden might be on you to go find them.
  - mistercow 9y ago
    I think it's important to note that while you can divide the volume of blue and grey water used to make a ton of almonds by the mass of one shelled almond, and get 1.1 gallons, you're ignoring kind of a lot of outputs of almond growing.
  - rconti 9y ago
    Almonds have to be grown in warm areas. Cannabis doesn't.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
jhiska 9y ago
Two wrongs don't make a right. One can argue that both almonds and cannabis take a harmful share of water in drought-prone areas and that both will be controlled.
- loeg 9y ago
  To the extent that either is a problem, the solution is market-pricing water. High water use farms will move out of drought prone regions for basic economic reasons.
Parcissons 9y ago
Surprisingly little if you used good, israely drip irrigation.
gaius 9y ago
Almonds don’t kill owls.
- hinkley 9y ago
  No, they’re just destroying the North American honey bee population.

How much water do almonds need? How much water in the US is used to grow almonds? How much water would be needed to grow weed for every man, woman, and child in the US?

nothrabannosir 9y ago

If this is rhetorical, and you know the answers, do share. Because I have no idea. It sounds like you do? Additionally: why are those numbers relevant? Just for context?

ceejayoz 9y ago
Almonds are brought up because they take up 10% of California's water (https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-almonds https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-al...). A single almond takes 1.1 gallons of water (http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-californias-water-going/ http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-califo...) to produce. Any argument for limiting marijuana growing based on "it takes lots of water!" has to address why we already permit stuff like almonds to be grown in drought-prone areas.
- nothrabannosir 9y ago
  Ok I can hardly compare “x litres per plant per day” vs “n gallons per almond”. How long does a plant live and how many “portions” does it have? I can guess almonds would be, say, a handful for a “portion”? So that’s.. how much in litres? See this is why I’m not super stoked about that original comment. Instead of making a clear point, I just get thrown some random hints and a “you go figure it out”. It’s like I’m supposed to make ones argument for them, and it might turn out to be completely irrelevant (maybe almonds are orders of magnitude more [e:less!] thirsty!) and then I can’t even reply because the actual argument was never made! Just give me the numbers. Do your own homework :) (well, not you, but op) (Edit: as someone else mentioned, this is assuming op was being rhetorical. If it’s a genuine q: I completely second it)
  - brianwawok 9y ago
    I know almonds take up a TON of water in an area without a ton of water. I do not really want to do the math, but if you are worried about the water usage of weed, I do implore you to first look up the water usage of almonds.
    - nothrabannosir 9y ago
      Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not keen to do the homework for your argument. [e: I’m not saying this to be petty, my point is this is not a strong argument. It’s a common occurrence, and a pet peeve of mine. I can imagine it feels right—in fact I also believe you are probably right! But were I of the opposite inclination, this wouldn’t convince me.]
      - gknoy 9y ago
        I had thought that the high water use of California's Central Valley almond trees was something that was relatively widely known. I know I've encountered in in a variety of readings over the last couple of years, and I haven't been specifically trying to research it. This is something that has already been written about a fair amount; is it really fair to expect him to "do his homework" for the counter to your claim when it's based on what is, to some, common knowledge? Moreover, the poster that you had already replied to above included two links to articles about the cost (in water) of growing various things. If you feel the need to "check the numbers", I think the burden might be on you to go find them.
- mistercow 9y ago
  I think it's important to note that while you can divide the volume of blue and grey water used to make a ton of almonds by the mass of one shelled almond, and get 1.1 gallons, you're ignoring kind of a lot of outputs of almond growing.
- rconti 9y ago
  Almonds have to be grown in warm areas. Cannabis doesn't.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

jhiska 9y ago

Two wrongs don't make a right. One can argue that both almonds and cannabis take a harmful share of water in drought-prone areas and that both will be controlled.

loeg 9y ago
To the extent that either is a problem, the solution is market-pricing water. High water use farms will move out of drought prone regions for basic economic reasons.

Parcissons 9y ago

Surprisingly little if you used good, israely drip irrigation.

gaius 9y ago

Almonds don’t kill owls.

hinkley 9y ago
No, they’re just destroying the North American honey bee population.