Urban Farming

I always felt that land should be used to either produce food or energy. If not give it back to nature. organizations like Queen City Farm use urban land that would just lay vacant, gathering trash, and not contributing to the betterment of the community.
http://queencityfarm.org/

Food Not Lawns International: Heather Flores Workshop Tour West Coast U.S. this Fall Needs Organizers

Food Not Lawns International: Heather Flores Workshop Tour West Coast U.S. this Fall Needs Organizers

Living Small

With all the news about job losses and home foreclosures was thinking about the idea of living in smaller spaces. Part of the foreclosure problem is people purchasing far more house than they need or can afford. Are we using all the space we are taking? I am finding even my home can house a small third world village or at least an extended family. I saw this video piece on CNN which talks about a few people downsizing their living spaces.

Food Not Lawns International: Heather Flores Workshop Tour West Coast U.S. this Fall Needs Organizers

Food Not Lawns International: Heather Flores Workshop Tour West Coast U.S. this Fall Needs Organizers

Bring It Closer To Home

I was contemplating the designs of our human habitats, such cities and suburbs. To me everything seems so far away, necessitating vehicular transportation. People use to be able to walk to school, libraries, shopping, work, entertainment. These days destinations are separated by a sea of asphalt. Even once you drive to your destination you have to walk far greater distances than people did in the past before the need of cars.

Children and the elderly should be able walk to wherever they need to go. If it requires an automobile to get there it has been placed too far away. Work, and satisfying basic needs should be within walking distance of your home. I had a job that was 17 miles away, which had me driving there and back. That took me too far away from my home and community. I used fossil fuel and time. I was also stressful.

There needs to be work within ones community and neighborhood. Food, work and other basic needs should within walking distance of your home. My father tells me that he never had a need of an automobile until he got married and moved to the suburbs. if his destination was too far to walk he took public transportation. Most of what he needed was within walking distance of his home.