Hi I finally did it. I wrote up my futurescape article for Columbus. I’ve yet to read Solartopia by Harvey Wasserman. But this is the green farm jobs version of his alternative energy dreamscape.
Here’s a new write-up that I would like to do more research on. Please let me know if any of it strikes your fancy. Would you be part of a committee to take it to city council meeting or a funding group. I would dearly appreciate any comments and critique you could give me. sincerely Karen
> Green City 2009
The following initiatives are suggested as ways to regain a vibrant and healthy food economy. They would lead to a massive greening of this and any city interested.
So far I’ve been accumulating different ideas that I could rank and then pick a few of the best to present as proposals. Some are far reaching such as inner city trade zones with tax abatement’s for local food production (Complete with pack animal usage). I think the areas surrounding the bike paths coming in from West Jefferson would be prime candidates (And the Big Darby area). All quadrants having their own being a long term goal. And some as simple as allowing people to have 3 chickens as pets. Many jobs could be created this way. New Green Jobs. Let’s take a look at some of them.
> Urban farms
The spin farming movement is here to stay. There are 1,000′s of vacant lots and large grassy areas for the taking and people needing jobs really close by. One group of public holdings are the Rec Centers. Taking the closed rec centers and turning them into production facilities for supplying food to those with EBT money goes to the center of many problems. I refer you to study the Growing Power programs in Minneapolis and how they are doing great things for 15 years. The top of downtown parking lot garages are another location that viable greenhouse and rooftop garden projects have been successful. Trade zones for start-up organic farms could even be given tax credits if they are close to a bike path or in areas such as the Big Darby protected sites. I would also like to include small and pack animals as part of this package. Goat carts, miniature horses and llamas would be novel ways to reduce traffic and create agritourisim jobs as well in conjunction with nearby farm markets.
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> Youth Group development
> Groups not gangs. More interaction with 4H, inner city programs and underused facilities such as the state fair and co fair grounds. There are only 800 children in 50- 70 4H clubs in Franklin County. My guess is that only a small percentage of them are minorities. These forgotten programs have a lot to offer to both country and city kids.
Nutritional Education
This be better shared if coupled with small start up businesses such as neighborhood food coops, spin farming opportunities, neighborhood greenhouses and even soup parties to demonstrate how food good for you can taste good too. Classes on food prep techniques such as making pasta, using a pressure cooker, canning, freezing and drying foods would allow homemakers to be more self sufficient use higher quality ingredients in their food prep and reduce their long term food budgets. It would also prepare people to start their own small businesses and strengthen the local economy.
Community Gardens
A number of things need to be done to make the community gardens more successful. Cisterns, rain barrels and trained master gardeners are necessary to prevent discouraging outcomes for beginning gardeners. Allowing small animal husbandry into the city would give more equal education opportunities on par with that which suburban children receive. The city needs more groups such as 4H, Junior Achievement and FFA working on and creating neighborhood youth groups.
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> Food Bank Farm
There are several of these around the country that have proven successful in creating jobs while providing much needed high quality food for those in need. Networking a number of agency and food organizations could do this as a joint project utilizing already existing resources.
Food as Art
There are a number of ways that food can be fun as well as educational. Events could be held at public events such as film festivals of farm related issues, dramatic readings from notable books, dinner parties such as those of the Slow Food organization. Even food sculpture contests could be held. Food Festivals have long been good fundraisers for many groups.
3 chickens in every yard
Many areas of the city would be able to maintain small animals as a way to teach kids responsibility and provide low cost but high quality protein sources.
Vacant land revival
This could serve a number of functions with proper management. It could be planted with cover crops that are needed for improving the tilth of nearby gardens. It would allow for the elimination of a non native invasive (grass) that creates a large carbon footprint in its maintenance. Such locations could be used to erect greenhouses for temporary production of crops such as leafy greens, micro greens or tomatoes that are targeted for food banks.
Outreach to ethnic farmers and gardeners
There are many minorities and immigrants living here who are skilled food producers and processors. They should be included in groups such as Grange and Farm Bureau. They could be given more opportunities to use their skills and have opportunities to start their own cottage industries.
Neighborhood Redevelopment using Permaculture techniques
There are a number of projects that could energize the lost
neighborhoods of Columbus by growing and selling food that is local. This would require a concentrated effort from farm groups, health departments and governments to work together.
The fence rows through out the city could be planted with melons, beans, cucumbers and tomatoes. Back yards and large spaces could be planted with decorative leafy plants such as spinach, chard and collards. Southern facing patios could be hung with large baskets of salad greens. Potted peppers and tomatoes and eggplants could line porches and balconies.
Local jobs could be created in the greenhouse industry to supply these plants.
Commercial greenhouses
These could be planted with the cooler season crops over
the winter to extend their business and keep sales taxes
local instead of increasing road taxes to bring this food in
from other states and countries. It could also be included with regional freezing and canning operations.
Green teams
It would take the creation of skilled teams to go out
into the neighborhoods to teach permaculture or manage
neighborhood based food economies at first. Landscapers
with rototillers would need to be hired to start new gardens or create edible swales on public and private lands. The Master Gardeners program of the Cooperative Extension Agency would need to step up their programing. Trained horticulturists and social workers would be needed on board to deal with those experiencing the cycles of poverty.
Hauling in large quantities of high quality compost for
brownfields that are grass but not toxic is a big need.
It could even reinvigorate the Farm Bureau and the
multitude of FFA students who can’t find a farm related
job once they graduate from high school and college. We as a society would be on the way back to self-sustainability as we once knew. People who once were on public assistance
could now pay the rent by selling jams, jellies, pickles,
fruit and food. Just like our forbears did to create the
wealth this country was known for. People could even learn to make their own sauces, pasta, bread and cheese. It’s not that hard. It’s a skilled job that would save families a lot of money and create more family togetherness. So not everyone is meant to be a farmer. But with 200-300 people living on a block there must be a couple who like to garden and could manage a small market garden or Ag related service nearby. We have a glut of housing on the market. Why does every lot need a house on it. Why can’t condo and housing projects include gardens in their planning. Every block could have it’s own greenhouse for early and late starts of dark leafy greens. These green houses can also house chickens and other small animals during the winter for 4H projects. The added nutrients would be a useful additive in the spring eliminating the need to truck in compost.
Vacant yards and the large expanses of grass surrounding business warehouses could be planted with cover crops that could be planted in attractive swales of different colors. They would need mowed less often then grass. When collected and mixed into compost piles they can be managed easier where they are then hauling them to a landfill or yard waste facility in other counties. The same ATVs such as Arlington
uses for trash pick up could be used to deliver 1/2 ton loads to nearby community gardens. Growing food locally would also reduce the packaging currently flooding our landfills and driving waste pickup taxes higher.
Alleys could be lined with berries for kids to pick and eat to their hearts content. A much healthier snack than potato chips or cookies. Is it really better not to know anyone in our housing units, not give kids more options of play and learning surrounding their homes. This is a lot to think about. Please find an idea that interests you and work on it.
