"I love that you've brought this to attention. An extensive database of uncommon but resistant and hardy plants/foods could be developed and organized by climate. Ease of growth and processing should also be taken in to account. I will try to…"
A crash course in changing the world.
Where will I be in 2020
What is often confused by critics of 'self-sufficiency' is that locally sourced products do not isolate communities from the World. Globalization has allowed inherently local culture phenomenons to export themselves onto a global platform, and the integration between these cultures is irreversible. Because you believe in self sufficiency and local produce, it does not mean that you want to go back to the dark ages!!!
My dream of 2020 is that people do become more responsible about their consumption, Not only what they eat, but how much they waste. When people begin self-sufficiency there is a realization of the effort that is put into the production of food and products, and that by throwing so much away, and not recycling, they are not only wasting that item, but the effort, energy and carbon footprint that has been put into that item. -
Where i live there is a sentiment of resentment towards recycling, because people feel that they are being forced into filling bins with washed out tins and milk containers. What I would impose is a recycle-exchange where people can earn seeds, pots, tools and poly-tunnels in return for recycling, so that environmentalism is rewarded with the potential to feed the individual, and rather than seeing no return for recycling, there is a sense of reward and achievement.
My 2020 would also have shed off the illusion of Nuclear deterrents, and invested the money saved on projects that help social progress, and work towards eradicating international debt. Rather than prepared for conventional or nuclear War, nations would have learned that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, and laid down their weapons in favor of transparency diplomacy, one that leaves behind preconceptions, boasts humility and contains no hidden agendas but the furthering of social progress.
Most of all, my 2020 would be a World of respect. Respect is not something that could happen tomorrow, as it is hard-earnt. In Britain, we have a proud history of multiculturalism, but people are still set on attacking this. What is difficult is that unrational radicals cannot be diffused with rational arguments as they are inherently irrational! - What defeats people who do not respect is unity. If we do not grant people with no respect the oxygen of publicity, they will learn that their views have no place in a world where respect is treasured and put before economic or political gain.
My dream of 2020 is that people do become more responsible about their consumption, Not only what they eat, but how much they waste. When people begin self-sufficiency there is a realization of the effort that is put into the production of food and products, and that by throwing so much away, and not recycling, they are not only wasting that item, but the effort, energy and carbon footprint that has been put into that item. -
Where i live there is a sentiment of resentment towards recycling, because people feel that they are being forced into filling bins with washed out tins and milk containers. What I would impose is a recycle-exchange where people can earn seeds, pots, tools and poly-tunnels in return for recycling, so that environmentalism is rewarded with the potential to feed the individual, and rather than seeing no return for recycling, there is a sense of reward and achievement.
My 2020 would also have shed off the illusion of Nuclear deterrents, and invested the money saved on projects that help social progress, and work towards eradicating international debt. Rather than prepared for conventional or nuclear War, nations would have learned that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, and laid down their weapons in favor of transparency diplomacy, one that leaves behind preconceptions, boasts humility and contains no hidden agendas but the furthering of social progress.
Most of all, my 2020 would be a World of respect. Respect is not something that could happen tomorrow, as it is hard-earnt. In Britain, we have a proud history of multiculturalism, but people are still set on attacking this. What is difficult is that unrational radicals cannot be diffused with rational arguments as they are inherently irrational! - What defeats people who do not respect is unity. If we do not grant people with no respect the oxygen of publicity, they will learn that their views have no place in a world where respect is treasured and put before economic or political gain.
Views: 16
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Comment by Adam Sunman on March 18, 2010 at 11:19am
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thanks, I don't think it's a struggle as such , I think it's a requirement!
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Comment by Eevi Korhonen on March 18, 2010 at 11:22am
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I like the recycle-exhange idea. In Finland we have a great culture of recycling, but it's still not enough if people are still wasting a lot material. At the moment, I don't believe we can get 100% of the recycled material back into usable condition, so waste happens anyway.
Inherent in your idea is that people would grow some of their food on their own. How would you see this happen in big cities like London, where space is already scarce?
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I can't remember who it was, but we have a comedian over here who says 'Self sufficiency is fine for the country, but I live in London, what am I going to eat, a dead pidgeon, tree bark and some plasterboard?' - I can see how big cities are disillusioned with the idea.
However, I live in a small city flat, but I've sawn up some guttering, filled it with compost and put it on my balcony guard, I've got salad, onions, radishes, leeks, lettuce, potatoes and chillies! - moreover, as I alluded to in the blog, being self sufficient isn't going back in time. Just because you grow your own vegetables, it dosen't mean that you're never going to go into a city again. Agriculture is still necessary with the huge amount of people in the world, and of course food production is still necessary.
I also appreciate that space is scarce, but often blocks of flats have a token 'garden' which is usually just wood chipping round some slabs. Why couldn't this be used for growing produce? - I realize that people cannot grow ALL their own food, but I feel that it needs to move past a gimmick, which 'grow your own' seems to be at the moment, and shift towards a viable SUPPLEMENT to consumption!
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If only more people did what you do. I read an interesting article about how cities were formed directly through their food supplies (sounds so simple when you write it down). They used London as an example where you can tell from the place names where cattle, poultry and all other produce were sold. The city used to be lot smaller, because it lived off the area surrounding it. The reason for the megacities of today is the imported food, which makes them so dangerously dependent. Imagining a city that size full of hungry people - it'd be a riot before you know it.
Though I'm glad to see that last time I was in London I saw a communal field right in the middle of Whitechapel (or around there). I think we'd need to take back some of that unused public space and help the communities to grow some of their own food. I don't know who exactly owns those token gardens, but I would like that it could be owned by the people who live in the buildings. Tending for the garden would not only be good for their health and diet, but could help bring back that sense of community that is often lacking in big cities.
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you might be interested in Hugh Fearnley Whittanstall's landshare project. http://landshare.channel4.com/ - the problem with seizing land like that is the illegitimacy - as soon as someone presses charges all that work is gone :( - what needs to happen is the government putting a stop to land hoarding (keeping it until it rises in value) - and if it's not being built on/a site of scientific interest, allow people to apply for smallholding liscences on it ! - I'm about to upload a video of my garden that you might like ! lol ..
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Comment by Simon Brookes on March 18, 2010 at 12:36pm
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A great vision Adam thanks for sharing. I love your rewarding recycling idea. Maybe this is an idea that you could think about developing further within the EVOKE network. I heard about a project similar to HFW's landshare this week. It'a all about developing urban farms on wasteland in, inner city Detroit (http://www.urbanfarming.org/). I love this becuase Detroit originally grew off the back of agriculture and the wasteland is still rich for growing even now.
Finally, you might want to participate in this interesting EVOKE debate: http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/the-great-food-miles-debate
+20 for sustainability.
Simon (EVOKE Mentor)
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Looking forward to the vid. I'm also planning on starting my own garden (if not on a balcony, then I'll just put pots in the kitchen) as soon as I've finished switching apartments. Maybe one day I'll also get a proper garden, but meanwhile I'll just have to innovate and do some urban gaderning :)
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Comment by Helene Lavertu on March 18, 2010 at 2:03pm
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I really love your idea of exchange for the recycling of materials. Here I am lucky ; recycling is very well viewed and promoted. I actually manage to make more recycling then garbage in my house, something I am very proud of. One way I achieved this is to have a compost bin in my small garden. It does save a lot on garbage! If I could exchange my recycling for seeds, I'd be in heaven! :)
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@ Eevi : In Montreal we have community gardens ; it's funded by the city and so popular there's generally a waiting list! Any citizen can apply to become a gardener, he is given a spot in the community garden of about 10 by 20 feet to grow whatever he wants for himself, family and friends. There are some rules, for instance, you can't use chemicals ; you can't grow more then 10% of flowers, etc. but it is very, very nice. It beautify the neighborhood and it help achieve some sustainability, plus it connects gardeners together. A bit like here, where we share ideas!
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Thanks for the comments guys, led me to write this; http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/guerilla-growing
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