Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Urban farming CoHO

[Wayne Tyson (landrest]

Y'all: 



I'm something of an urban (backyard) farmer, but am physically limited, so 
don't do as much as I would like. DC would be out for me too, but am heading to 
Portland (from San Diego) in a week or so. So, those in Portland who would 
permit an intrusion by a wannabe, feel free to let me know. We have no 
schedule, but early October appears to be a reasonable ETA. 



I am the son of a dry-farmer and grew up as such, but am in favor of wild foods 
theoretically but acknowledge the problems with sustainability, ecosystem 
degradation, overharvesting, etc., yet believe that most of those obstacles can 
be overcome if there is no BP (Big Publicity) "movement" and a small number of 
responsible people gradually develop techniques that are non-destructive on a 
somewhat larger scale. Among other things, wild foods take some pressure off of 
industrial farming and conversion of ecosystems to monocultures and other 
destructive agricultural practices. Unfortunately, all the hue and cry (and 
practice) is on the destructive side, with emphasis upon continually increasing 
marginal profitability (at disproportional cost to the rest of us) rather than 
an efficiency that serves us all. 



Intensive small-plot, mixed agriculture is far superior to mega-farming of any 
kind, and in urban settings is not usually destructive of ecosystems. 



In many urban areas, lots of edible plant life goes to waste every year; this 
could be used to offset (and reduce) industrial agriculture. Many such plants 
are "weeds," but caution must be used because of all the poisons present in 
urban areas, but changes in "management" practices could, while saving rather 
than spending taxpayer dollars, "scale up" this resource. Much food and useful, 
even valuable material goes to waste in urban landscaping too (fruits, nuts, 
wood, etc.). A slow transformation toward a truly more ecosystem-based (minimal 
or zero outside energy/nutrients/money/labor and other resource inputs, thus 
highly efficient) could eventually add up to a significant advance in both 
urban and rural quality of life. 



The present reality is that the crush of human population and overconsumption 
is undermining its own quality of life and will eventually undermine the 
quantity trend too, most likely as a precipitous crash. To the extent that 
individuals can reduce their participation in that trend, much of the 
associated pain and tragedy might be reduced. 

 

I see urban farming as an encouraging beginning in a transition toward a 
transformation in the way humans interact with their support system. This is 
not a new thought, but what may be new is the idea that there is yet more to be 
learned through a continuous refinement of action and thought. 



WT



PS: This is not expressed very well; I'm better at details/specifics than 
generalities (I hope). 



Irrigation is far from as efficient as it could be, and can actually be 
damaging. Understanding the hydrologic cycle in detail, including how water 
behaves in and on soil and plants can help transform practice from technique to 
principle-in-action. With that as a foundation, guesswork can work better. 
Farming is a full-time activity; too bad it has become a "job." 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kkudia [at] peoplepc.com>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2010 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Urban farming CoHO


> 
> Sharon:
> 
> No, according to what I read,  Eli  intends to develop 16 units (one, two, 
> three bedroom units) which are actually on 1.87 acres. Focus: farming and 
> fruit trees. Aim: encourage more farming in the city.
> 
> Hopefully more Portland CoHo folks will join the discussion. Columbia Eco 
> Village in Portland is on 3 1/2 acres with 2 acres farming/fruit/nut trees 
> and 37 condos per their Webpage. There appears to be some serious urban 
> farmers there already. Are there any in Seattle or any other urban settings?
> 
> I don't know what he intends re irrigation. Isn't it rainy there? Is water 
> an issue in Portland? Lots of ways to conserve and utilize water for 
> farming. Water Cisterns etc. This is not my field. I just like planting and 
> eating home grown veggies and eating or cooking with eggs from my chicken, 
> duck or goose who free range....poultry who eat all those insects and poop 
> to give the ground some fertilization. Simple city life of farming. Europe 
> has always had small villages with farming around them. All done locally. 
> Gosh think of cheese fondue etc.
> 
> Perhaps we need a CoHo conference in Portlant and invite Eli to speak?  Just 
> a thought. Wayne perhaps we will meet at a conference? Timing for Boulder 
> Conference and Washington DC just doesn't work for me...so looking beyond 
> for the West Coast Conference...can't wait.
> 
> Karen
> Anthony FL
> 
> 
> I assume this is 2 acres per household?
> 
> I'm curious, for the more gardening savvy than I, how this would affect 
> city water systems if many people did it? Is it legal to drill a well in a 
> city and bypass city water?
> 
> 
> Sharon
> Sharon Villines
> Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
> www.takomavillage.org
> 
>>> Just a thought. Read last month that Orange Splott LLC is a Portland, 
>>> Oregon
>>> CoHo developer (Eli Spevak). They have or are going to propose the model:
>>>"Farm within the City" model on less than 2 acres.
> / 
> 
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> 
>


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