A crash course in changing the world.
Highlights of Leeds in 2020
I thought I'd make a map highlighting four interesting features of the new, resilient face of Leeds in 2020. The map can be found here:
The features that will be of particular interest are:
1. Common Gardens. A new council initiative was put into place whereby a portion of all public parks in Leeds was set aside and turned into a food garden space for the surrounding community. Residents in the vicinity can volunteer to help maintain the garden in exchange for a share of the produce from each harvest. This, combined with the home gardens or food production activities of many households, frequently brings participants to basic food self-sufficiency.
2. Power Allotments. A reworking of the old agricultural allotment idea, several businesses in the city that own high-rise buildings are offering up space on their roofs for a small fee for residents to leave portable solar panels and related devices for charging, giving peak sun-exposure.
3. The Leeds DIY Centre. The Do It Yourself Institute is a world-wide organization dedicated to promoting home production of goods. They have opened up centres in major cities around the world to provide advice, courses and informational literature, and networking opportunities for people looking to home produce materials including food, clothing, and dwellings.
4. Clarence Dock Eco Development. The pride of the Leeds Resilience movement. Once a failed residential/commercial space on the outskirts of the city centre, it has since been refitted into an almost entirely self-sustained community. Features include roof-top gardens and solar/wind power stations and hydro-electric power from the nearby River Aire. The buildings themselves have been rebuilt to be more energy/heat efficient. Given the strong communal spirit that has established itself in this neighbourhood, Clarence Dock residence are at the very forefront of the move towards making Leeds a more resilient place to live.
Views: 14
Tags: IMAGINE7
-
Comment by Sarah Shaw Tatoun on April 17, 2010 at 4:47pm -
Great map! And that Do It Yourself Institute-- I want to join! Have you thought about making that your Evoke?
-
Comment by James Hester on April 17, 2010 at 4:49pm -
@Sarah, very very possible. It just came to me while I was brainstorming for this, but I agree it does have potential. Thanks for the support. Good to know I have one confirmed member already! :-)
-
Comment by Patricio Buenrostro-Gilhuys on April 17, 2010 at 5:21pm -
Great post. Regarding your Common Gardens idea you might find this interesting: At Evoke we are building some similar initiatives of Community Urban Farms http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/first-steps-to-create-a and http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/copying-the-internet
-
Comment by Turil Cronburg on May 9, 2010 at 12:48pm -
I agree, the DIY Institute is something that needs to happen! :-) Go for it!
My own evokation is similar, with the goal being locally built "clubhouses" or at least donated spaces in other buildings for people to collaborate on getting their basic needs met using simple, practical solutions, and especially focusing on involving kids and teens in the projects, because they have so much energy and creativity, and are a valuable resource. :-)
Comment
© 2013 Created by Alchemy.
You need to be a member of Urgent Evoke to add comments!
Join Urgent Evoke