Going Green in the City

[Michaelangelica]

I meet a lot of people who tell me "I'd love to grow some of my food this year, but..." or "I can't do permaculture where I live because... " or "I wish I had chickens but..." Way too many of us believe we can't go green because we live in the city, have no land, have a small apartment, etc. etc. So we continue to be slaves of the supermarket.

If these worried folks are local I like to show them the half-wine barrels and terra cotta pots that live on our driveway, just outside the backdoor (easy to care for with kitchen-sink rinsing water). And if they have even a little open space near where they live, my hubby gives tours of our 1/3 acre suburban lot that over the last decade has become a productive permaculture-style backyard food forest, chock a block with over 100 fruit and nut trees, herbs, veggies, edible roses and other yummies.
more at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-...b_1345709.html

[Ludi]

There's also the possibility of starting more community gardens.

http://communitygarden.org/

http://communitygarden.org.au/

[S.O.P]

Australia, particularly where I live, doesn't really have many community gardens, well none that you don't have to drive for an hour to get there. I know through my employ, people have contacted my employers to get one off the ground only to be shut down. It's a shame that these people are probably attacking in a fragmented way and really need to organise to grab some of that useless public land that gets mowed every 2-4 weeks.

That said, I came across the most perfect spot for a community garden. A large narrow block with house running east-west, sunroom (inbuilt greenhouse!) owned by Council, sharing a boundary with a public Library so it has a massive carpark and educational areas available. Come election time and after seeing who gets in, I'm going to start threatening my employment by getting vocal about it.

[Michaelangelica]

Australia, particularly where I live, doesn't really have many community gardens,
That said, I came across the most perfect spot for a community garden..

Many local councils are starting to support and encourage community gardens lately
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-2...sydney/3909854

[S.O.P]

Yep, Sydney. All good for you.

Until a change here, don't count on it.

[Pakanohida]

Yep, Sydney. All good for you.

Until a change here, don't count on it.

A student walked up to his master and said, "Master, I am tired, and sad. How do I keep going on when I am so discouraged?"

Master didn't even look up from his tea and said, "By encouraging others."


Sounds simple, I know it isn't, but perhaps you, like I, need to walk into our local council offices and talk about Permaculture and how it will help them protect people on a local level, which, essentially is their job.

[S.O.P]

I definitely will walk in, after the local elections. Bureaucracy hates to start anything if there is a slim chance it will be all for nought.

For 3 years I've watched environmental issues be eroded in the pursuit of money and only a change of management will hopefully move the goal posts.

[Pakanohida]

Right now I am watching a fight between Fish & Game, and our local farmers of cranberries (this is the largest producing area in the USA), cattle, and other types of farms. However, Fish and Game wants to extend their borders and protect the wetlands. This will, and already is preventing farms that were here before becoming part of the Union can no longer make money because the new rules are preventing them.

I know Permaculture is the answer here, but then I look out my living room window and I see the entire river valley flooded. Flood stage starts at 21.0'; we are at 24.7, we are expected to be at 24'+ by Sunday night. This does not take into account tide as well. The largest flood on record is another 12 to 15' higher then what has occurred. So, I am left wondering what truly is the correct answer here besides making sure I plant more Willow along the river bank when the water goes down and hope it takes before the next flood.

[eco4560]

Tell 'em that the Sunshine Coast Regional Council is way ahead of them and they need to keep up with the Jones's. There seems to be money out there in council funding for green projects, you just need to have someone who knows their way around local council to help you find it. Of course the risk is that once the finding stops so does the project, so you need to design it to be self supporting once it is off the ground. The Nambour community gardens are happening slowly - but with council support and initial funding. It is a 'rent a plot' style garden, so it should be financially self sustaining once underway. It's in the show grounds so it will also function as a demonstration garden during show times.

Best wishes Pak - hope you don't find yourself on an island...

[Mr Fernando Pessoa]

Greets All.
Community gardens need some initial inputs for them to be taken seriously,first you need a committed group of at least 40(this allows for considerable diverse skill set and also for natural attrition).
The gardens take care of themselves(usually) what you really need is a committed leadership group a good financial controller a person skilled in social marketing,handy people,plumbers are great,inventors and scroungers,artists and cake bakers etc etc etc.

You need to be a not for profit organisation with a visible structure and good communication,this allows funding from grants and benefactors,gives you the opportunity to gain Public liability insurance and generally show that you have god governance.
Use the model rules and make sure you have competent office bearers that see their job as facilitation not domination.

You need a viable "model" the best way to find one is just copy what a quality community garden has done and modify it to suit your own needs.
Social and financial bridges are then made into your local area,social bridges are other community organisations,schools,universities and institutions get letters of support for your ideas from them.
Financial bridges can be to local business,grants providers,benefactors and other benevolent groups.
Offer them some good will advertising or a spot in the garden.
Membership fees,your own fundraising efforts and micro enterprise run from the garden will help you along the way.

Political help on the local level in Australia and also the help of local council will come when you can be seen as potentially providing the community with an amenity.
No one wants to bet on a disorganised group that shows little direction and is full of swagger.Softee softee catchy monkey..
I have been involved in quite a number of garden set ups in a few different places and this works even in the most hostile of council environments.
Best wishes
Fernando.