Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: NIMBY-ism & Opposition to Cohousing

[John Gear (catalyst]

>>"I'm convinced that we need more farmland, not less . . .a lot more
>>than we need PUDs, especially "upper middle scale" developments.
>>...Why not preserve the Farm?"
>
>We agree.  Actually, farmland preservation is one of our founding goals.  We
>will be attempting to transfer ALL of the develoment rights for a 38 parcel
>of organic vegetable farmland to a small 3-4 acres area where existing
>buildings are located, keeping the rest of the farm in routine operation.  We
>were thinking that the transfer of all development rights would protect the
>rest of the land from future development pressure, however, we would consider
>other, more permanent forms of protection.  Does anyone have any suggestions
>in this regard?  Such protection would likely also win over some of those who
>would object because they also want to protect the open space.  The
>owners/operators of the farm are founding members of our cohousing group.  We
>definitely envision co-existence with and involvement in the continued
>operation of the farm.

GOOD WORK!  LAND TRUST IS *THE* WAY TO GO

Marvelous!  Someone else already suggested a land-trust, which I second.

The trust issue is crucial because it binds you---and your successors--in a
way that no amount of good intentions can.  And that will be critical down
the road when large developers are waving big stacks of money at you--or
your successors in the project.  Land trusts are a *very* smart move for
preservation of farmland.

Development rights are like smallpox viruses--too dangerous to be kept alive
and ever-more dangerous the longer they are kept out of circulation.  (The
longer you don't develop--but can--the more valuable and tempting it will be
to develop ... first a chunk here, then a chunk there, and then, what the
hell, it's not much anyway and ...).

You render them safe by putting them in a form that can't get out and do
harm--like an irrevocable land trust for farming.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

Z Magazine (116 St. Botolph Street, Boston MA, 02115; $26/12 issues) has, in
its February 1995 issue a *great* interview called "Cheap Food" about the
need to preserve small farms.  Written by Signe Waller who is "a farmer and
freelance writer in Carroll County, IN.  She and Jim Rose operate Earthcraft
Farm, a Community Supported Agriculture project.  The invite all to jump
into this conversation at:  RR4, Box 263, Delphi, IN, 46923; (317) 268-2669
or though email to 73250,675 [at] compuserve.com ..."  

I think she might be able to put you in touch with resources for setting up
what you want to do.  I gather that they've figured out a way to help people
in the surrounding community understand the real economics of food and the
benefits of paying a little more for local/fresh/organic.

AN UNUSUAL--BUT EFFECTIVE--WAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT (LARGER) CHARITABLE GROUPS

Alternatively, there is a small farms trust outfit that sends me fundraising
pleas every now and then.  I've not responded and don't have their
particulars but I bet a phone call to the VA Secretary of State or whoever
birddogs fundraising outfit in your state would yield their name and
addresses (and financial report).  There are probably several groups working
this issue in the US and they probably all know of each other, so if you
find one ...

I can't tell you if they're good or bad, concientious or convicts, but I did
note that they have a fairly good "anti-slick" appeal.  Only groups large
enough to do fundraising show up here, but since that's nearly every group
in the universe today ...

(If VA has decided that monitoring charity ripoffs is too much like
communism you can probably call Annapolis; a lot of charities file their
financials in Maryland.)

KUDOS AGAIN

And again, your marvelous plans have made my day!  I grew up in Maryland and
have camped around Northern Virginia and in Western Maryland and West
Virginia.  I am filled with disgust at the sprawl and very gratified to hear
that you'll preserve a spot of open space/farmland.  Good luck!