Encouraging Urban Farming is our way of taking action on global issues. It's a small drop in a big bucket, but something we felt we could do effectively. While this site focusses on the Urban Farming issues, the subject really needs to be taken in context of the much bigger picture. Because of this we've decided to start a section that provides global and local information (where available) on issues such as resource shortages, financial influcences, social & climate issues.
In the article food miles we talked about the energy cost of transporting the food long distances. Today people have too often become oblivious to these hidden costs, particularly to the environment as well as the social costs of losing local agricultural industry and infrastructure.
Quoting Joni Mitchell: "I wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song."
The song is known for its environmental statement (from the lyrics "Paved paradise to put up a parking lot", "Hey farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now") and sentimental sound. The line, "Took all the trees, put 'em in a tree museum/And charged the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em" refers to Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu, which is a living museum of tropical plants, some rare and endangered. (Wikipedia)
Sadly we have seen changes in our world that have resulted in our children and future generation having less that we did. The less I refer too is less diversity of plants and animals, less wilderness and less choice in what we do. "The more" that we, as a race have pursued with such vigour has come at a great cost. Animals struggle to survive in the zoos and a baby born is a big ticket news item! Climate change is threatening the oceans and all they contain, with reduced biodiversity who knows what the future will hold. On our small holding we deal with feral animals that kill wildlife such as birds and possums as well as noxious, introduced weeds that poison stock and reduce the productivity of the land. We try not to use synthetic methods to deal with these issues but with no natural predators this is an increasingly hard option. So in our own way we are working at making a positive change and move to a more prosperous and sustainable future and wish to convey our enthusiasm to others.
Some people believe that as individuals we are trapped and can not make changes occur. They are wrong, if we as individuals vote with our feet then changes can and will occur. Detroit once the gas guzzling capital of the world now potentially leads the world in urban food production. In Detroit, buildings and roads are making way for farms.
To begin this section we feel the following items are a must:
- Chris Martenson - The Crash Course
This will help you understand the relationship between the economy, peak oil and resource shortages. Excellent viewing. - Immigration by the Numbers
This series of videos will change the way you think. Starts off like a lecture, but please persevere - this is very important. - Jeff Rubin at "The Business of Climate Change". Watch how Jeff ties together resources, economies and a fundemental return to local markets.
- Watch Food Inc, You may never look at a meal in the same way again.
- Watch out for Edible City - due for release this year. See a healthy sized trailer here
