permaculture

["Golden Love" <goldenlove@cruzio.com>]

Here in Santa Cruz, there is so much land around houses and in parks, that
we could grow enough food for the whole town. Right now the land is laying
fallow or covered with rocks. In places like San Francisco and Oakland, most
of the land is asphalt and concrete, so it looks like we would need to grow
on the roofs and start removing concrete and asphalt. I have even dreamed of
that happening here in Santa Cruz. If people got rid of their cars, all of
National Street could become this wonderful growing area. Actually, I see
this happening. My sledge hammer is ready.

Golden Love
Love's Gardens
Creating and Maintaining Sustainable Urban Landscapes
California Licensed Contractor C27 363672
127 National St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone  (831) 471-9100
Fax  ( 831) 471-9200
goldenlove@cruzio.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Rain Tenaqiya
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 11:51 AM
To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [permaculture] smart growth vs permaculture

Here in Ukiah, California, there is a debate going on about how the town is
allowed to grow.  Given that water is limited, it is questionable whether
any increase in population should be allowed without corresponding
conservation measures.  But mainly, the debate is about whether the town
should increase its density, or whether new housing should be built on an
expanding perimeter.  'Smart growth' is a term used to describe conscious
planning that increases density, but also integrates many functions and
actually increases the quality of life for the inhabitants.  Mixed use, with
offices and businesses downstairs and housing upstairs, integrated with
parks and public facilities, is becoming more common and makes a lot of
sense.  There is less driving, in theory, because one can work, shop, and
play right next to your home.
 
The problem, some say, is that once fossil fuels run out, dense urban areas
will be unable to provide for their own needs.  Also, even though people can
theoretically live next to their workplaces, people rarely choose to do so.
So it's a mixed bag.  These people advocate building new homes on the edge
of town, where people can grow their own food, capture their own water, and
harvest their own energy.  But, as Toby mentioned, people rarely do this
either.
 
So as long as we are using fossil fuels, it seems that smarth growth is a
good idea for those that are not into being self-reliant.  For those who are
into self-reliance, living on the edge of town, or in town with a large lot,
or in an ecovillage that you seldom leave, is a good idea.  Since moving to
a town from the country, I , like Toby, have also been driving less- and I
am still growing the same amount of food.
 
The fact is that the vast majority of people, even farmers, buy most of
their food, use fossil fuels for energy, and drive their cars like crazy.
Since the food farmers grow contains way less energy than the fossil fuels
that it took to grow it, we might as well all just live in city boxes and
eat oil.  That is basically what we are doing anyway.
 
Rain
 
 

                
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