permaculture

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@gilanet.com>]

Does anyone else see a lot of that old "city looking down on the country" 
here? If we don't read the New Yorker does that mean we're some kind of 
ignorant yahoos? Some people imagine rural life is isolated and just plain 
stupid.  I see references to TV shows, which I don't watch since I don't need 
to be spoon fed commercials the rest of my life.  They imagine our children 
have no one to play with if we don't buy a tract house or rent an upscale 
apartment.  They become belligerent and defensive if we mention that cities 
are especially vulnerable in severe economic downturns -- or mention that .  
It's almost as if the Depression never happened or at least they never heard 
what happened in the big cities when unemployment skyrocketed.  And BTW my 
partner spent her summers growing up in Brooklyn and knows very well what a 
city looks like.

paul@largocreekfarms.com
http://medicinehill.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 10/25/2004 at 2:49 PM Sean Maley wrote:

>I certainly didn't like his condemnation of 3 billion
>other humans for having an "urban" lifestyle.  Had
>Paul read the October 18 New Yorker article, he would
>clearly have realized his experience in Dallas can not
>be compared to Manhattan.  His reference to the use of
>the automobile in an Urban environment gave him away;
>not fun or cheap in Manhattan.  If NYC were a state,
>the per capita energy consumption would make it number
>51 on the list of consumers.
>
>Clearly there is a tendency for others, not just Paul,
>to associate the morning news shows with what NYC life
>is about.  Actual NYC life bears no resemblance to
>these images on the television, yet we are judged by
>them nevertheless.  Real life involves your children
>playing with the other children in the building and
>neighborhood; there is always a birthday party.
>Mid-town and Downtown have many very tall buildings,
>yet the people live in between and around these office
>buildings.  Watch Sesame street for an image of what
>many buildings really look like, plus mile after mile
>of 6-10 story often brick buildings.  If you visit,
>you will either use the subway, or go get your car at
>the 38th street tow pound; even when you are towed
>from 218th street you still "pay" at 38th, then
>retrieve back up at the 202nd street pound (25 mile
>round trip, hopefully not in a cab).  Leave your car
>at home.  Recyclables found in the garbage induce
>fines.  Not sweeping the sidewalk is an offense.
>Water leaks have a hot line to report offenders.  The
>city seems to be using environmentally friendly code
>enforcement as a means to raise revenue via fines.
>
>Some sites:
>
>http://www.1400on5th.com
>http://www.thesolaire.com
>http://www.greeninggotham.org/intro.php
>http://www.cenyc.org
>http://www.nyccompost.org
>
>Before a person condemn urban living, they ought to
>consider limiting human impact to those areas least
>recoverable and then returning the less disturbed
>rural and remote regions to the wilds.  Humans are
>social creatures and require healthy interaction
>amongst themselves, so high density is more human
>anyway.  Please don't confuse the totalitarian
>agriculture imposed on us with how people respond when
>they realize they don't need to be saved.  For those
>who seek isolation, you may consider psychotherapy for
>whatever trauma you suffered; this community doesn't
>need you to lash out at us, we are here *for* each
>other, not to condemn one another.  It would be nice
>if Paul sought the help we are not qualified to
>provide in this community.
>
>
>-Sean.
>
>--- McFarlandAIA@aol.com wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Is it just me or is this Paul guy a creep? Raging
>> for anyone who will listen.
>> I see your name and I delete. I care to learn about
>> Permaculture, not be
>> poked and and preached to.
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