<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for <em>The NYT</em> on urban farming]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by human power http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/ Thu, 08 May 2008 14:15:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/1 Sometimes small is big and bad

I live next to a community garden run by my small city. Unfortunately, when I calculated the carbon footprint of these one hundred small plots (10 ft X 20 ft), I was forced to admit that these gardeners would generate 300-fold less CO2 if they just picked up their trucked in produce at the grocery store.

Now, if they would stop driving to the garden, that would be a different story.

]]> Sometimes small is big and bad

I live next to a community garden run by my small city. Unfortunately, when I calculated the carbon footprint of these one hundred small plots (10 ft X 20 ft), I was forced to admit that these gardeners would generate 300-fold less CO2 if they just picked up their trucked in produce at the grocery store.

Now, if they would stop driving to the garden, that would be a different story.

]]> Comment #2 by edmharris http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/ Thu, 08 May 2008 18:35:31 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/2 Small scale actions with global reach


The real action may be in small things; the real solution might be in lots of little solutions.

I completely agree that we shouldn't discount actions which are labeled 'small-scale' or 'local', and I think urban agriculture is a great example (although perhaps human power - previous comment - could suggest some kind of car pooling arrangement?)

Let's not forget, however, that even these 'small' actions can resonate on a large scale. Sustain, a UK-based group campaigning for better food and farming has recently released a report detailing a knowledge/expertise-sharing exchange between urban farmers in the UK and the US.

I am sure that knowledge of these shared experiences - even at a great distance - will help and inspire those initiating urban agriculture projects in the UK in coming years.




]]> Small scale actions with global reach


The real action may be in small things; the real solution might be in lots of little solutions.

I completely agree that we shouldn't discount actions which are labeled 'small-scale' or 'local', and I think urban agriculture is a great example (although perhaps human power - previous comment - could suggest some kind of car pooling arrangement?)

Let's not forget, however, that even these 'small' actions can resonate on a large scale. Sustain, a UK-based group campaigning for better food and farming has recently released a report detailing a knowledge/expertise-sharing exchange between urban farmers in the UK and the US.

I am sure that knowledge of these shared experiences - even at a great distance - will help and inspire those initiating urban agriculture projects in the UK in coming years.




]]> Comment #3 by wiscidea http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/ Thu, 08 May 2008 23:29:30 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/3 The Right To Grow Food

Thank you for the post. I especiallly appreaciate...

"The real action may be in small things; the real solution might be in lots of little solutions."

You might want to be more assertive. Real action emerges from small actions and real solutions consist of lots of small solutions.

The silver-bullet thinking displayed by our current leadership is archaic and non-productive. One would imagine they're capabe of  recognizing this. Aren't busines folks always going on about having "diverse" investment portfolios?

As individuals. as a nation, and as a species, we need a diverse food portfolio and a diverse energy portfolio. Both might buffer families and communities from inevitable climate, social, political, economic, et cetera instabilty. Why don't "conservatives" get this? Why don't they help, rather than hinder, urban gardening?

I'm particularly concerned about legal "instruments" that prevent people from growing their own food if they should decide to. When we were searching for a house, we learned that it is not unusual for developers to sell homes with certain restrictons built into the deed, presumably to protect the value of the houses. For example, no vegetable gardens in the front yard or visible from the road! Or, one is allowed to plant only certain trees! They don't want those "unsightly" tomato plants by the front door or "messy" fruit littering the sidewalks.

This is occurring for relatively low-cost homes, not just the larger ones. It is hard enough to find an affordable house in a convenient location. I doubt many people worry about whether they can grow tomatoes if they develop an interest in it later on.

Is this happening elsewhere in the country? Or is it an isolated phenomenon?

]]> The Right To Grow Food

Thank you for the post. I especiallly appreaciate...

"The real action may be in small things; the real solution might be in lots of little solutions."

You might want to be more assertive. Real action emerges from small actions and real solutions consist of lots of small solutions.

The silver-bullet thinking displayed by our current leadership is archaic and non-productive. One would imagine they're capabe of  recognizing this. Aren't busines folks always going on about having "diverse" investment portfolios?

As individuals. as a nation, and as a species, we need a diverse food portfolio and a diverse energy portfolio. Both might buffer families and communities from inevitable climate, social, political, economic, et cetera instabilty. Why don't "conservatives" get this? Why don't they help, rather than hinder, urban gardening?

I'm particularly concerned about legal "instruments" that prevent people from growing their own food if they should decide to. When we were searching for a house, we learned that it is not unusual for developers to sell homes with certain restrictons built into the deed, presumably to protect the value of the houses. For example, no vegetable gardens in the front yard or visible from the road! Or, one is allowed to plant only certain trees! They don't want those "unsightly" tomato plants by the front door or "messy" fruit littering the sidewalks.

This is occurring for relatively low-cost homes, not just the larger ones. It is hard enough to find an affordable house in a convenient location. I doubt many people worry about whether they can grow tomatoes if they develop an interest in it later on.

Is this happening elsewhere in the country? Or is it an isolated phenomenon?

]]> Comment #4 by ruth117 http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/ Fri, 09 May 2008 04:27:45 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/4 Aren't they driving to the grocery store too?

I have a community garden plot about 20 minutes from my apartment and yes I do drive to the plot. However it is on my route to work and often I will stop before or after work to pick a few weeds and gather produce for supper, much the same way I go to the store on my way home to get grocery's. I don't think it increases my carbon footprint any more to drive to my garden plot. In the fall/winter I don't have to take as many trips to the store because of all the veggies I have stocked up. PLUS all my plants are soaking up all the carbon they can get!!

Beyond environmental reasons I garden because I love eating stuff I planted myself with seeds I saved from the year before, I love the feel of soil under my nails and I love the feeling of joy as all those little plants pop out of the ground and start climbing for the sky! Everyone should get to have a hobby and mine just happens to be one of the most environmental out there!

Like snowflakes we are each frail but together we can stop traffic

]]> Aren't they driving to the grocery store too?

I have a community garden plot about 20 minutes from my apartment and yes I do drive to the plot. However it is on my route to work and often I will stop before or after work to pick a few weeds and gather produce for supper, much the same way I go to the store on my way home to get grocery's. I don't think it increases my carbon footprint any more to drive to my garden plot. In the fall/winter I don't have to take as many trips to the store because of all the veggies I have stocked up. PLUS all my plants are soaking up all the carbon they can get!!

Beyond environmental reasons I garden because I love eating stuff I planted myself with seeds I saved from the year before, I love the feel of soil under my nails and I love the feeling of joy as all those little plants pop out of the ground and start climbing for the sky! Everyone should get to have a hobby and mine just happens to be one of the most environmental out there!

Like snowflakes we are each frail but together we can stop traffic

]]> Comment #5 by ecomommy http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/ Fri, 09 May 2008 07:19:26 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/better-homes-and-gardens/5 Restricting Food Growth

Built-in restrictions aree all over the place in new development, and they are almost always anti-green.  I've seen them say you can only build a certain size home (ie big.)  They require grass often, they tell people they can't have certain animals, grow veggies, all kinds of stuff.

Totally absurd in the present climate.

]]> Restricting Food Growth

Built-in restrictions aree all over the place in new development, and they are almost always anti-green.  I've seen them say you can only build a certain size home (ie big.)  They require grass often, they tell people they can't have certain animals, grow veggies, all kinds of stuff.

Totally absurd in the present climate.

]]>