Appropriate Technology

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura AT gmail.com>]

 AGRICULTURAL URBANISM - a discussion thread worth developing in depth
Thanks to Keith Johnson for finding this resource.

AGRICULTURAL URBANISM
QuickReadAgf.pdf (application/pdf Object) - Sent using Google Toolbar
http://www.lindroth.cc/pdf/QuickReadAgf.pdf

"Research is ongoing to develop techniques for
assimilating agriculture into an urbanism acceptable to
the expectations of modern life and meeting the choice of
lifestyles of Transect-based plans.
The ability to grow food has implications for communities
on multiple levels: from food security and health issues,
to ensuring a local economy, to the vast environmental
benefi ts of local farming, and the social benefi ts of a
productive activity in which all members of a community
can engage.
The dominance of large lot, low-density housing has
become typical in many American suburbs. While
appearingly idyllic, when these spaces are not
incorporated into a larger urban and regional plan, the
repetition and redundancy of a single slice of the transect
can be the most detrimental type of sprawl, whereas
when carefully incorporated into a larger plan arranged
according to the transect, can have quite a different effect.
When farmland is built upon, a basic premise in
Agricultural Urbanism is that one third will be urbanized
while the production of the whole will be tripled. This
trade-off is achieved by intensifying the agricultural activity
at every level of the transect; from window boxes, balcony
and roof gardens in the more urban Transect Zones,
to the progressively larger community gardens, yard
gardens, small farms, and ultimately large farms in the
more suburban and rural Transect Zones.
The condition specifi ed in Association Documents will
be that every dwelling, in some measure, participates
(or allocates that portion of the household budget which
would normally be dedicated to maintaining ornamental
landscaping) in the production of food. Larger farms may
be centrally managed with connection to distribution
systems. There will be a heavy equipment yard held
in common, as well as facilities for the processing and
storage of high value food. This is part of the town
square also has the new facilities of a local university’s
agricultural department.
This is NOT urban agriculture. This is agricultural
urbanism in which all aspects of the urbanism are focused
on the production of food.
There is a very positive attitude towards agricultural
urbanism on the part of those who are environmentally
concerned, those who would enjoy the society of a shared
endeavor (front gardens were introduced for the purpose
of social discourse—a role not unlike that of a porch) and
for those who wish to take precautions with their health
and welfare.
Urbanism must be cohesively designed. By concentrating
development, land is liberated for agricultural use.
Agricultural projects must be precise both in terms of the
land cultivated, and in the management of it. The transect
will help organize the appropriate placement of agriculture
at the scale of both the master plan and the architecture
of buildings.

Food Production Along
the Transect
Every dwelling along the transect will
contribute in some measure to food
production, either by labor or by wages.
Owner’s association agreements regarding
dedicating the funding which is normally
allocated to landscape will be for agriculture
subsidies. Producing food on-site allows:
Greater independence from
mass-produced food, buffering
from petroleum shortages,
less pressure on government
Control over food processing, including:
pesticides and other additives to
food, humane treatment of animals
Social Benefi ts of including nondriving
members of society in economy
Economic Self-Sustainability: food is
a reliable commodity, particularly when
the means to preserve it through with
Value Added Agriculture is considered.

<>....<>

Environmental
Implications
Incorporating the production of food sources
into an urban masterplan results in built-in
effi ciencies, both economic and environmental.
Because there is practicality towards closing
a natural cycle, many costs may be reduced
or eliminated, including waste disposal, food
fertilzers, and food transportation, when food
is grown locally. In the project shown here, the
following effi ciencies were realized:
Water
Collection, fi ltration, storage in
reservoirs designed as civic landmarks
Great increase in pervious land
Energy
Less driving for food and its transport
On-site job creation
Proximity to food
Buildings energy-efficient
Food
Closer to closed nutrient cycle
Better control over supply of food
Better control over food additives
Better control over treatment of animals
Waste
Composting sites at both public and
private gardens
Recycling stations become a part of
town life

- Stormwater Collection and Purifi cation with this uphill reservoir; Tsawwassen, British Columbia

Agricultural Urbanism and the Charter of the New Urbanism
c PRINCIPLE 1: CONCERNING THE METROPOLIS
The project supports economic and housing interests
for the region, as well as the production of food and the
maintenance of open space.
PRINCIPLE 2: CONCERNING THE METROPOLITAN ECONOMY
The program includes education, agriculture, mixeduse
streets and blocks with live-work units. Project is
designed to contribute positively to the surrounding areas.
PRINCIPLE 3: CONCERNING AGRARIAN/NATURAL LANDSCAPES
By only building on 1/3 of the site, 2/3 is maintained for
open space or food production.
PRINCIPLE 4: CONCERNING INFILL OVER EXPANSION
The site was a low-productivity agricultural land
sandwiched on two sides by existing communities.
PRINCIPLE 5: CONCERNING NEW DEVELOPMENT
The project is organized into neighborhoods.
PRINCIPLE 8: CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION
The project is organized around a pedestrian shed, will
have jobs on-site, and will be connected with the existing
transportation network into the adjacent communities by
bus routes and bicycle paths.
PRINCIPLES 10 AND 11: REGARDING NEIGHBORHOODS
The project is compactly organized to allow connected
open space and agricultural land. Neighborhoods are
compact, pedestrian-friendly and contain mixed-use.
PRINCIPLE 12: REGARDING THOSE WHO DO NOT DRIVE
Agricultural Urbanism not only provides the normal
activities of a well-planned mixed-use place, but also
a variety of employment opportunities that might not
otherwise exist.
PRINCIPLE 13: CONCERNING DIVERSITY
A broad price range of both housing and gardening
opportunities is included. In particular, co-housing
proponents participated in the charrette.
PRINCIPLES 14 AND 15: REGARDING TRANSIT
The project is walkable with planned connection to
existing transit. Walkability diagrams are provided.
PRINCIPLE 16: COMMUNITY CIVIC SPACES AND SCHOOLS
An existing school in Boundary Bay is walkable, and the
Agricultural Department of a local university is proposed
as are an additional primary school and recreation fi elds.
PRINCIPLE 18: COMMUNITY GARDENS, GREEN SPACES
The project contains all of these.
PRINCIPLE 19: MIXED USE STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES
The project is designed with places of Shared Use
PRINCIPLE 21: CONCERNING DESIGN FOR SAFETY
The project contains both “eyes on the street” and
protected courtyards. These shield working areas from
the community and create safe places with non-vehicular
thoroughfares.
PRINCIPLE 22: ACCOMMODATING CARS AND PEDESTRIANS
A hierarchy of thoroughfares allows a combination of
alternative transit and vehicular routes, benefi tting the
pedestrian and reducing environmental and economic
impacts of infrastructure.
PRINCIPLE 23: SAFE, WALKABLE STREETS AND SQUARES
The project is designed with neighborhood centers.
PRINCIPLE 25: CIVIC BUILDINGS AND COMMUNITY IDENTITY
The Identity of the project is clearly marked by the Market
Square, visually anchored by large barns.
PRINCIPLE 26: APPROPRIATE BUILDING DESIGN
The architecture of the project is based on local
precedent.
PRINCIPLE 27: PRESERVATION OF LANDSCAPES
The maintenance of an open agricultural area both
supports the vista the neighbors are accustomed to and
provides an on-site economy for the community.

<>.....<>

Value Added Agriculture
Value Added Agriculture refers to the processing and preservation of foodstuffs in a way that
increases their market value. Bakeries and canneries are examples of two programs that
buffer market and crop fluctuations, allow the use of less than perfect produce (creating value
where none might otherwise exist), and make use of less skilled or part-time labor, including
a part of the population that might not otherwise be employed. Therefore, including of these
spaces into the program of an agricultural town is important for its economy.

<>......<>

Case Study C:
The Garden Village
This Garden Village represents the
harmonious intersection of agriculture and
urbanism in the form of a free-standing
rural settlement. Garden Villages restore
the village to its original function: the
growing of food.
In this plan, a central green spine houses
the principal Civic or Community structures
and gathering spaces. Higher density
urbanism defi nes the edge of this green
with apartments equipped with window
boxes and vertical gardens. Community
gardens are designed in close proximity
to these higher-density structures that
otherwise have minimal or no yards.
Extending from this central space are
agricultural wedges/ slivers that fan out
into the countryside. Private gardens
such as kitchen gardens, roof gardens, or
window boxes occur in smaller houses.
The next scale of gardening occurs on
lots of a quarter to one-half of a hectare
with larger houses. One to 5+ hectare
homesteads round out the village edges
and tractor farming happens beyond.